Selenipedium Palmifolium

''Selenipedium'' is a genus of the Orchid family (''Orchidaceae'') (Subfamily '' Cypripedioideae''). The genus has been given its own tribe, Selenipedieae, and subtribe, Selenipediinae.Pridgeon, A.M.; Cribb, P.J.; Chase, M.W. & F. N. Rasmussen (1999): Genera Orchidacearum Vol.1, Oxford U. Press. It is abbreviated Sel in trade journals.

The name of the genus is derived from the Greek ''selen'', which means " moon", and ''pedium'', which means "slipper" (referring to the pouch).

The seed capsules of these Central and South American lady's slipper orchids were formerly used as vanilla substitutes, but selenipediums are now rarely cultivated. Partly this is because of the difficulty of doing so, but is probably also due to the relatively small size of the Selenipedium's flower. The wild flower's Amazonian habitat is also under threat, so extinction is a risk for all species of Selenipedium.

Accepted species include:
* ''Selenipedium aequinoctiale'' Garay — Ecuador
* ''Selenipedium buenaventurae'' (Szlach. & Kolan.) P.J.Cribb
* ''Selenipedium chica'' Rchb.f.
* ''Selenipedium dodsonii'' P.J.Cribb
* ''Selenipedium isabelianum'' Barb.Rodr. — Brazil
* ''Selenipedium olgae'' Szlach. & Kolan.
* ''Selenipedium palmifolium'' (Lindl.) Rchb.f. & Warsz.
* ''Selenipedium steyermarkii'' Foldats — Brazil, Venezuela
* ''Selenipedium vanillocarpum'' Barb.Rodr. — Brazil

Allied genera include '' Paphiopedilum'', '' Mexipedium'', '' Cypripedium'' and ''Phragmipedium'' - a genus containing several species formerly known as ''Selenipedium'', such as ''Selenipedium caricinum'' (now ''Phragmipedium caricinum''), and ''Selenipedium laevigatum'' (now ''Paphiopedilum philippinense'').

References

External links

*

Various Selenipedium samples, and the problems of cultivation

Slipper Orchid Discussion Forum

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Orchid genera
Cypripedioideae