''Dinema'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
orchid
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant.
Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...
s. It is represented by a single currently accepted species, ''Dinema polybulbon'', native to
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
,
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
, and the
Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
.
Description
They are epiphytes or lithophytes; with pseudobulbs 10 mm long and 6 mm wide, spaced 1–1.5 cm apart on the creeping rhizome, slightly compressed, yellowish-green, apically bi-foliate. The leaves are 15 mm long and 8 mm wide, obtuse, emarginate, shiny green. The inflorescence is uniflora or rarely with 2 flowers, terminal, the flowers 15 mm in diameter, the sepals and the petals are yellowish-brown, the lip is white to yellowish-white with the yellow nail, the column is white with purple spots; the sepals 9 mm long and 2 mm wide, shortly acuminate; petals 9 mm long and 1.5 mm wide; the simple lip, 9 mm long and 6 mm wide, unguiculate, adnate to the base of the spine, with the disc dilated and with undulated edges, thickened nail 2 mm wide; the column is 5 mm long, with 2 conspicuous extensions at the apex, the anther is terminal, pollinia 4; ovary 15 mm long, pedicellate. The fruits are ellipsoid capsules
File:Dinema polybulbon (Sw.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.- 111 (1831) (32380227466).jpg, Plant
File:Dinema polybulbon (Sw.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.- 111 (1831) (32269394302).jpg, Flower
File:Dinema polybulbon BotGardBln27120C.jpg, Plant growth habit
Distribution
It is found in
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
,
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...
,
El Salvador
El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...
,
Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...
,
Honduras
Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Oce ...
,
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...
,
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
and
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
. Uncommon species in habitat, found in humid mixed forests, at an altitude of 1000–1400 meters; it blooms in November, and bears fruit in August.
Taxonomy
This species can be recognized by the small size, the relatively large solitary flowers, the simple white to yellowish-white lip, and the cornicle-shaped extensions of the column. It is a monotypic genus.
''Dinema polybulbon'' was described by (Sw.) Lindl. and published in ''The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants'' 111. 1831
;Synonyms
*''Epidendrum polybulbon''
*''Encyclia polybulbon''
*''Bulbophyllum occidentale''
*''Epidendrum polybulbon'' var. ''luteoalbum''
*''Epidendrum cubincola''
*''Dinema cubincola''
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q8560006, from2=Q15453075
Monotypic Epidendroideae genera
Laeliinae genera
Orchids of Mexico
Orchids of Central America
Orchids of Belize
Flora of the Caribbean
Laeliinae
Flora without expected TNC conservation status