''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, 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 ...
that contains about 330
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
Oncidiinae
The Oncidiinae is a subtribe within the Orchidaceae that consists of a number of genera that are closely related.
This subtribe consists of about 70 genera with over 1000 species, with '' Oncidium'' as its largest genus. These genera consist of ...
of the orchid family (
Orchidaceae
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 ...
). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much of
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
West Indies
The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...
, with one species ''(O. ensatum)'' extending into Florida. Common names for plants in this genus include dancing-lady orchid and golden shower orchid.
In 2008, Oxfords Annals of Botany labeled the ''Oncidium'' alliance "grossly polyphyletic." The
American Orchid Society
The American Orchid Society (AOS) is a horticultural society for education, conservation, and research of orchids. It was founded in 1921, and has an international membership. It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It has been called an "indus ...
labeled this genus a "dumping ground."Lindleyana : The scientific journal of the American Orchid Society. December 2008 Pg 20 After DNA testing and much debate, a consensus was announced (April 2013) resulting in major taxonomic changes to ''Oncidium,
Gomesa
''Gomesa'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains about 80–100 species, all native to South America. The genus is abbreviated as ''Gom''.Odontoglossum
''Odontoglossum'', first named in 1816 by Karl Sigismund Kunth, is a genus of about 100 orchids. The scientific name is derived from the Greek words ''odon'' (tooth) and ''glossa'' (tongue), referring to the two tooth-like calluses on the base o ...
,
Miltonia
''Miltonia'', abbreviated Milt. in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus comprising twelve epiphyte species and eight natural hybrids. The miltonias are exclusively inhabitants of Brazil, except for one species whose range extends from Braz ...
,'' and others. Much of this debate and subsequent housekeeping was initiated by significant research for the scientific publication Genera Orchidacearum Volume 5. As a result, much of the information in this article is now deprecated, but still of great value. One significant change is the move of most Brazilian ''Oncidium'' with a fused lateral sepal to the genus ''
Gomesa
''Gomesa'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains about 80–100 species, all native to South America. The genus is abbreviated as ''Gom''.Olof Swartz in 1800 with the orchid ''Oncidium altissimum'', which has become the type species. Its name is derived from the Greek word ὀγκος, ''onkos'', meaning "swelling". This refers to the callus at the lower lip.
Most species in the genus are epiphytes (growing on other plants), although some are
lithophyte
Lithophytes are plants that grow in or on rocks. They can be classified as either epilithic (or epipetric) or endolithic; epilithic lithophytes grow on the surfaces of rocks, while endolithic lithophytes grow in the crevices of rocks (and are also ...
s (growing on rocks) or terrestrials (growing in soil). They are widespread from northern
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 ...
, and some parts of South
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
to South America. They usually occur in seasonally dry areas.
They can be divided into three categories, according to their growth pattern:
* Some have green pseudobulbs and long
raceme
A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...
s with small flowers and a dominant lip. They are mostly golden yellow with or without reddish-brown barring, but some are brown or yellowish-brown. Other Oncidium species have white and pink blooms, while some even have startling, deep red colors in their flowers.
* Another group has extremely small pseudobulbs and stiff, erect, solitary
leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
. These cylindrical leaves act as a water reserve. They have long racemes with yellow flowers that seem to fan out at the top. Sizes of these orchids can vary from miniature plants of a couple of centimetres to giants with 30 cm-long leaves and racemes of more than one metre long. These species, known as the Mule-Ears, are now classed as ''
Psychopsis
''Psychopsis'' is a genus of four known species of orchids native to northern South America, Central America and Trinidad. The genus name is abbreviated ''Pyp.'' in the horticultural trade.Alphabetical List of Standard Abbreviations for Natural ...
''.
* Formerly there was a third group, called the Variegata or equitant oncidiums. They have no pseudobulbs, giving fan-shaped shoots of less than 15 cm, with triangular section leaves. These oval, broad and spongy leaves act as storage organs. Their flowers are most complicated with exquisite colors. The sepals are somewhat fleshy. The petals and the lip are membranaceous. These orchids are now classified as '' Tolumnia''. ''Cyrtochilum'' is another
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 ...
that many ''Oncidium'' species have recently been reclassified into; ''Cyrtochilum'' species have extremely long, winding inflorescences that can sometimes reach 20' or more, curled petals that result in three-pointed blooms, and rambling growth habits in which each new pseudobulb appears on top of the old one.
''Oncidium'' species are characterised by the following properties :
* presence of
column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
wings,
* presence of a complicated callus on the lip (this can be used to separate the taxa),
* pseudobulbs with one to three leaves,
* several basal
bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...
s at the base of the pseudobulbs.
The
flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s come in shades of yellow, red, white and pink. The petals are often ruffled on the edges, as is the lip. The lip is enormous, partially blocking the small petals and sepals.
Some ''Oncidium'' orchids are very long : ''Oncidum altissimum'' and ''Oncidium baueri'' can grow to a height of 5 m, while ''Oncidum sarcodes'' can reach 3 m.
They are known as 'spray orchids' among some florists. They are very varied and are easily hybridised with ''Odontoglossum''. Together with other closely related genera (''Miltonia'', ''Cuitlauzina'', ''Miltoniopsis'', ''Osmoglossum'', ''Leochilus'', ''Comparettia'', ''Cyrtochilum'', ''Odontoglossum'', ''Tolumnia'', ''Rhynchostele'' ormerly ''Lemboglossum'' ''Psychopsis'', etc.) they form the Oncidium alliance. Some of the best Oncidium alliance hybrids originate from ''Oncidium tigrinum'' and ''Oncidium incurvum'', when crossed with Odontoglossums, although hybridization possibilities of this group of orchids are endless, and there are literally hundreds of thousands of excellent hybrids in the Oncidium alliance.
Oncidium alcicorne
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium altissimum
''Oncidium altissimum'', Wydler's dancing-lady orchid, is a species of orchid native to the West Indies (Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles), with an 18th-Century citation from Jamaica.
This name should not be confused with the illegitima ...
Oncidium amabile
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Lindl.
John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.
Early years
Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley w ...
Oncidium baueri
''Oncidium baueri'' is a species of orchid native to Costa Rica and to South America as far south as Bolivia and Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both So ...
Oncidium bicolor
''Oncidium bicolor'' is a species of orchid ranging from northeastern Venezuela to Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America ...
Oncidium cogniauxianum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium coloratum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium deltoideum
''Oncidium deltoideum'' is a species of orchid found from southern Ecuador to northern Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the ...
Oncidium discobulbon
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
'' (Peru).
* ''
Oncidium divaricatum
''Oncidium divaricatum'' is a species of orchid found from southeastern and southern Brazil to northeastern Argentina.
References
External links
Photos Oncidium Pulvinatum (Oncidium divaricatum)
Oncidium, divaricatum
Orchids of Arge ...
Oncidium exalatum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium fasciculatum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
'' (Mexico - Oaxaca, Chiapas to Guatemala).
* ''
Oncidium fasciferum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
'' (Peru).
* ''
Oncidium fimbriatum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium forbesii
''Oncidium forbesii'' is a species of orchid native to southeastern Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with ...
Oncidium fuscatum
''Oncidium fuscatum'' is a species of orchid occurring from Colombia to Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other ...
Oncidium gauntlettii
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium gracile
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium harryanum
''Oncidium harryanum'' is a species of orchid native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is named in honour of Sir Harry Veitch (1840–1924), a horticulturist who sent collectors out for the firm of James Veitch & Sons
The Veitch Nurseries were ...
Oncidium hians
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium hirtzii
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium inouei
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium lucasianum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium millianum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium morenoi
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium picturatum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium platychilum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium pubes
''Oncidium pubes'' is a species of orchid found from Colombia, southeastern and southern Brazil to northeastern Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern ...
Oncidium semele
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium storkii
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium trichodes
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
Oncidium triquetrum
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
'' (Jamaica) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia triquetra'')
* '' Oncidium trulliferum'' (Brazil - Rio de Janeiro).
* '' Oncidium truncatum'' (Brazil - Mato Grosso).
* '' Oncidium tsubotae'' (Colombia).
* '' Oncidium tuerckheimii'' (Cuba to Hispaniola) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia tuerckheimii'' )
* '' Oncidium unguiculatum'' (C. & SW. Mexico).
* '' Oncidium unicolor'' (SE. Brazil).
* '' Oncidium uniflorum'' (SE. & S. Brazil).
* '' Oncidium urophyllum'' (Lesser Antilles) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia urophylla'')
* '' Oncidium usneoides'' (Cuba) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia usneoides'')
* '' Oncidium varicosum'' (Brazil to N. Argentina).
* '' Oncidium variegatum'' (S. Florida to Caribbean) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia variegata'')
** ''Oncidium variegatum subsp. bahamense'' (S. Florida to Bahamas) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia bahamensis'')
** ''Oncidium variegatum subsp. leiboldii'' (Cayman Is. to Cuba) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia leiboldii'' )
** ''Oncidium variegatum subsp. scandens'' (Haiti) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia scandens'')
** ''Oncidium variegatum subsp. velutinum'' (Cuba) (now synonym of ''Tolumnia velutina'')
* ''
Oncidium vasquezii
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived (May 2014), it is distributed across much ...
* × ''Miltonidium'', a hybrid genus with at least one ''Oncidium'' ancestor
* × ''Oncostele'', a hybrid genus with at least one ''Oncidium'' ancestor
References
* Harry Zelenko :The Pictorial Encyclopaedia of Oncidium (1997)
* Koniger, W. 2003. New species of the genera Masdevallia, Oncidium and Sigmatostalix. Arcula no. 12: 298-311.
*