''Miltonia'', abbreviated Milt. in the horticultural trade, is an
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. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...
genus comprising twelve
epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphyt ...
species and eight natural hybrids.
The miltonias are exclusively inhabitants of
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
,
except for one species whose range extends from Brazil into the northeast of
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
and the east of
Paraguay
Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...
.
The genus of ''Miltonia'' was established by
John Lindley
John Lindley Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidology, orchidologist.
Early years
Born in Old Catton, Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four c ...
in 1837, when he described its
type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
, ''
Miltonia spectabilis''. Formerly many more species were attributed to ''Miltonia'', however, beginning in 1978, the miltonias from
Central America
Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...
and from cooler areas of northwest
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...
have been moved to other genera, including
Miltoniopsis and
Oncidium
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that, , contains about 340 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family Orchidaceae. It is distributed across tropical and subtropical America from ...
, and these changes are still in the process of being accepted by the horticultural trade.
''Miltonia'' species have large and long lasting flowers, often in multifloral inflorescences. This fact, allied to being species that are easy to grow and to identify, make them a favorite of orchid collectors all over the world. Species of this genus are extensively used to produce artificial hybrids.
Despite the fact that ''Miltonia'' is now a well established genus, most of its species were originally classified under other genera as ''
Cyrtochilum'', ''
Oncidium
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that, , contains about 340 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family Orchidaceae. It is distributed across tropical and subtropical America from ...
'', ''
Odontoglossum'', and ''
Brassia
''Brassia'' is a genus of orchids classified in the subtribe Oncidiinae. It is native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America, with one species (''B. caudata'') extending into Florida.
The genus was named after ...
''. All were discovered between 1834 and 1850 with the exception of ''M. kayasimae'', discovered only in 1976.
These orchids have two leaves, arising from a
pseudobulb
In botany, a pseudobulb is a storage organ found in many epiphytic and terrestrial sympodial orchids. It is derived from a thickening of the part of a stem between leaf nodes and may be composed of just one internode or several, termed ''heter ...
, covered with a foliaceous sheath. The inflorescence consists of waxy, nonspurred flowers. The
lip
The lips are a horizontal pair of soft appendages attached to the jaws and are the most visible part of the mouth of many animals, including humans. Mammal lips are soft, movable and serve to facilitate the ingestion of food (e.g. sucklin ...
is large and flat and lacks a callus at its base. They possess a footless
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 ...
with two hard
pollinia
A pollinium (: pollinia) is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant that are the product of only one anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. This is regularly seen in plants such as orchids and many species of milkwee ...
. The flowers have a delicate, exotic scent, some compare to that of roses.
They are named after
Charles Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 5th Earl Fitzwilliam, formerly Viscount Milton, an English aristocrat, politician, patron of science and horticulture, and orchid enthusiast.
The species in this genus are sometimes referred to as the pansy orchids, but it is the ''
Miltoniopsis'' orchids that have flowers that closely resemble the
pansy
The garden pansy (''Viola'' × ''wittrockiana'') is a type of polychromatic large-flowered hybrid plant cultivated as a garden flower. It is derived by hybridization from several species in the section ''Melanium'' ("the pansies") of the ge ...
. Almost everyone except for the most serious orchid hobbyists uses the name pansy orchids interchangeably, which may cause confusion.
''Miltonia'' looks more like ''Oncidiums'' than the other pansy orchids. The most "pansy-like" a ''Miltonia'' can get is the species ''
Miltonia spectabilis''. Taxonomists are debating whether to combine ''Miltonia'' with the genus ''Oncidium'' because of the many connections between the two.
''
Miltoniopsis'' is the pansy orchid with huge showy flowers. They grow in cooler climates and are more challenging to grow than ''Miltonia''.
This genus forms with ''Miltoniopsis'' a hybrid genus ×''Milmiltonia'' J.M.H.Shaw.
Description

''Miltonia'' are comparatively medium large orchid plants reaching about fifty centimeters height. They present
subcaespitous growth, that means their
pseudobulb
In botany, a pseudobulb is a storage organ found in many epiphytic and terrestrial sympodial orchids. It is derived from a thickening of the part of a stem between leaf nodes and may be composed of just one internode or several, termed ''heter ...
s are not tightly packed but slightly spaced by a
rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...
, that is longer than on caespitous plants, with length between two and five centimeters. Their
root
In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...
s grow along the rhizome in high numbers. They are white, comparatively thin, usually short and hardly branched. The rhizome is covered by dried imbricating
steaths which get increasingly larger at the base of pseudobulb becoming articulated foliar steaths that partially cover them. The pseudobulbs and
leaves
A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...
vary in color from yellowish bright light green to olive green depending on the species and to the amount of
sunlight
Sunlight is the portion of the electromagnetic radiation which is emitted by the Sun (i.e. solar radiation) and received by the Earth, in particular the visible spectrum, visible light perceptible to the human eye as well as invisible infrare ...
they are exposed to. They may be more oval and laterally highly flattened to slightly tetragonal and elongated and almost always bear two apical leaves. The leaves are narrow, flexible and hardly larger than three centimeters wide and forty long with the apexes rounded sometimes slightly pointed. Some species are about half of this size. The
inflorescence
In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...
s are one or two per pseudobulb, shoot from their bases behind the protecting steaths. They are erect and never branched, often longer than the leaves, bearing from one to twelve moderately spaced flowers that open at the same time or in succession holding three or four opened all the time, when the older fades a new one opens. The older flowers of species with white lips that open in succession usually get yellower about the time the next flower opens although they still last one more week before fading. The first to bloom is ''M. cuneata'', during late winter, but the majority of species bloom from late spring to late summer.
The flowers of ''Miltonia'' vary from four to fifteen centimeters across; the larger are the ones with fewer flowers. Their colors vary from entirely white and pink to dark purple, pale yellow or lilac when plain, or they may highly spotted but then usually they are greenish or brownish with a contrasting
labellum often white with purple dots, stains or veins close to the base.
The petals and sepals shapes are highly variable from species to species but always somewhat similar to each other within a species. They may be erect and flat or sometimes less open. The labellum is simple or very slightly lobed, usually very wide and showy without salient calli although normally showing more or less subtle keeled thickenings close to the base, usually of different colors; it is much larger and wider than the other segments, often flat but in ''M. candida'' embraces the column and in all species it is slightly fused to the column at their bases. The short
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 ...
does not have a foot and presents two lateral auricles sometimes merged to each other through a fringe that surrounds the superior edge of the
clinandrium. The anther is apical and bears two yellow hard
pollinia
A pollinium (: pollinia) is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant that are the product of only one anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. This is regularly seen in plants such as orchids and many species of milkwee ...
. They possibly are pollinated by bees.
[Hoehne, Frederico C. (1940). ''Introduction'' in Flora BrasÃlica, Vol 12-1: 37-8. Secretaria de Agricultura de São Paulo.]
Taxonomy

The first species to be described, among the ones today classified under the genus ''Miltonia'', was originally published by
John Lindley
John Lindley Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidology, orchidologist.
Early years
Born in Old Catton, Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four c ...
, in 1834, as ''Cyrtochilum flavescens''. In this description Lindley notices that the flowers of this species turn orange color when drying and, for some confusion regarding the origin of the species, attributes it to
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
instead of Brazil. Two years later Lindley described another ''Miltonia'' species but, then, under the genus ''Oncidium'', as ''O. russellianum'' in homage to Duke of Bedford. When describing this plant, Lindley considered it as a ''transition species'' pointing out that it was very different from the average ''Oncidium'' because of its purple colors and undivided lip.
[Lindley, John (1836). ''Oncidium russellianum'' in Edwards's Botanical Register 22: t. 1830. England.]
In 1837, Lindley received from Mr. Loddiges and from George Baker two other specimens of a very distinctive new species. Recognizing then this should in fact be a new genus, he proposed the name ''Miltonia'' to it as a homage to
Charles Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 5th Earl Fitzwilliam, formerly Viscount Milton, an English orchid enthusiast. Lindley states then that the limits between a number of
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 a ...
genera, ''
Cyrtochilum'', ''
Oncidium
''Oncidium'', abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that, , contains about 340 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family Orchidaceae. It is distributed across tropical and subtropical America from ...
'', ''
Odontoglossum'', ''
Brassia
''Brassia'' is a genus of orchids classified in the subtribe Oncidiinae. It is native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America, with one species (''B. caudata'') extending into Florida.
The genus was named after ...
'' and ''Miltonia'', at that time classified as Vandaea, were yet to be perfectly established; although closely related, the differences should possibly be: ''Oncidium'' has a column with two ears and labellum distinctively lobed; ''Miltonia'' has a column with two ears and an entire labellum partially united to the column base; ''Odontoglossum'' and ''Cyrtochilum'' have winged columns and entire labelli but the former has it partially united to the column; and ''Brassia'' does not have any appendages on the column. Although Lindley described the genus ''Aspasia'' (which is the most closely related to ''Miltonia'') in 1833, both by flower and vegetative morphologies, he did not mention it on his ''Miltonia'' description.
Three other botanists were working with ''Miltonia'' species around the time Lindley described this genus. All recognized these plants should be classified under a new genus and, as communications were slower then, all proposed new genera:
Knowles and
Westcott also received also a plant of ''M. spectabilis'' and, just one month after Lindley, proposed for it the genus ''Macrochilus'', calling the species ''Macrochilus fryanus''; the other one was
Rafinescque who, in 1838, decided that the ''Oncidium russellianum'' already described by Lindley in 1836 should be under another genus and created for it the genus ''Gynizodon''. Both ''Macrochilus'' and ''Gynizodon'' are synonyms of ''Miltonia'' and no other species has ever been submitted to them.

As ''Miltonia'' species are common plants, comparatively large, with also large flowers of bright colors, that, moreover, are spread mostly over an area of early settlements in Brazil all species but one were already described in 1850; six of them by Lindley, ''M. regnellii'' by
Reichenbach[Reichenbach, Heinrich G. (1850). ''Miltonia regnellii'' in Linnaea 22:: 851.] and ''M. moreliana'' by
Achille Richard. Despite the early description of ''M. moreliana'' in 1848, and two other as ''M. rosea'' by
Lemaire Lemaire (or LeMaire or Le Maire) is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Adrien Lemaire (1852–1902), French botanist
* Alfred Jean Baptiste Lemaire (1842–1907), French military musician
* Axelle Lemaire (born 1974), French poli ...
in 1867, and as ''M. warneri'' by
George Nicholson in 1886,
Arthur Henfrey reduced it to a variety of ''Miltonia spectabilis'' in 1851, and as such it was considered until 2002, when
Cássio van den Berg reestablished it as a distinct species.
[Carlini-Garcia, L. A..; C. van den Berg; P. S. Martins (2002). A morphometric analysis of floral characters in ''Miltonia spectabilis'' and ''M. spectabilis'' var. ''moreliana''. Lindleyana 17(3): 122-129]
Published on Internet.
/ref> The last ''Miltonia'' species to be discovered was ''M. kayasimae'', found by an orchid collector not far from the city of São Paulo, in an area around nine hundred meters of altitude nearby the top of Serra do Mar mountains. It was named after their collector by Guido Pabst in 1976. So far very few plants were found, all living at the same area.[Pabst, Guido F.J. (1976). ''Miltonia kayasimae'' in Bradea 2: 88.]
Since the genus ''Miltonia'' was established, many species, now classified under a number other genera, were submitted to it. The most noticeable cases were four of the five species of '' Miltoniopsis'', a genus proposed in 1889 but only really accepted in 1976. Despite its somewhat similar flowers, ''Miltoniopsis'' are from cooler forests on the Andean
The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long and wide (widest between 18°S ...
slopes closely related to ''Cyrtochilum'' and only remotely related to ''Miltonia''. Also five of the six ''Miltonioides'' species were occasionally considered as ''Miltonia'' until 1983 when Brieger and Lückel proposed this genus for them. These are species of more delicate and narrower flowers, from Mexico and Central America, which some taxonomists claim might be better classified under the genus ''Oncidium'' to whom they are closely related.[Williams NH, Chase MW, Fulcher T, Whitten WM (2001). ''Molecular systematics of the Oncidiinae based on evidence from four DNA sequence regions: expanded circumscriptions of Cyrtochilum, Erycina, Otoglossum, and Trichocentrum and a new genus (Orchidaceae)'' in Lindleyana 16(2): 113-139.] The last common species which was occasionally classified under ''Miltonia'' is '' Chamaeleorchis warszewiczii'', which is related to ''Oncidium'' and some taxonomists identify as ''Oncidium fuscatum''.
In 1983, Brieger and Lueckel, considering that four species of ''Miltonia'', ''M. candida'', ''M. cuneata'', ''M. kayasimae'' and ''M. russelliana'', show the junction of the labellum with the column in a different angle than the other species, proposed the genus ''Anneliesia'' for them. Although this four species form a small sister clade to the rest of ''Miltonia'' species, the difference did not seem important enough to justify the acceptance of this new genus, therefore this proposal has not been generally accepted by the scientific community.
In 2001, based on molecular analysis, Norris Williams and Mark Chase, transferred a species previously classified under the genus ''Oncidium'', as ''O. phymatochilum'', to ''Miltonia''. As this species shows a morphology that closer to ''Oncidium'' species than to ''Miltonia'', because of its small yellowish flowers and highly branched inflorescence, this result and following transfer was a great surprise to most taxonomists. In 2005, Eric Christenson
The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, Eirik, or EirÃkur is derived from the Old Norse name ''EirÃkr'' (or ''ErÃkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization).
The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-No ...
suggested a new genus and the name ''Phymatochilum brasiliense'' for it. , Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
History
Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...
accepts the species as '' Miltonia phymatochila''.
Molecular analysis show that ''Miltonia'' most closely related genera are ''Aspasia
Aspasia (; ; after 428 BC) was a ''metic'' woman in Classical Athens. Born in Miletus, she moved to Athens and began a relationship with the statesman Pericles, with whom she had a son named Pericles the Younger. According to the traditional h ...
'', ''Brassia
''Brassia'' is a genus of orchids classified in the subtribe Oncidiinae. It is native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America, with one species (''B. caudata'') extending into Florida.
The genus was named after ...
'' and '' Ada'', which are the most important genera included in this that is one of the eight clades that form the subtribus 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 a ...
of tribus Cymbidieae
The Cymbidieae is a tribe of plants within the family Orchidaceae. The group is divided into the following subtribes:
* Catasetinae
* Coeliopsidinae
* Cymbidiinae
* Cyrtopodiinae
* Eriopsidinae
* Eulophiinae
* Maxillariinae
* Oncidiinae
* ...
.
Species
, Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
History
Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...
accepted the following species:
*'' Miltonia altairiana'' Chiron & V.P.Castro
* ''Miltonia'' × ''binotii'' Cogn.
* ''Miltonia'' × ''bluntii'' Rchb.f.
*'' Miltonia candida'' Lindl.
*'' Miltonia clowesii'' (Lindl.) Lindl.
* ''Miltonia'' × ''cogniauxiae'' Peeters ex Cogn. & A.Gooss.
*'' Miltonia cuneata'' Lindl.
* ''Miltonia'' × ''cyrtochiloides'' Barb.Rodr.
*'' Miltonia flava'' Lindl.
*'' Miltonia flavescens'' (Lindl.) Lindl.
*'' Miltonia kayasimae'' Pabst
* ''Miltonia'' × ''lamarckeana'' Rchb.f.
* ''Miltonia'' × ''leucoglossa'' Anon.
*'' Miltonia moreliana'' A.Rich.
* ''Miltonia'' × ''peetersiana'' Rchb.f.
*'' Miltonia phymatochila'' (Lindl.) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase
*'' Miltonia regnellii'' Rchb.f.
* ''Miltonia'' × ''rosina'' Barb.Rodr.
*'' Miltonia russelliana'' (Lindl.) Lindl.
*'' Miltonia spectabilis'' Lindl.
The species of ''Miltonia'' show many differences to each other are very easy to identify, therefore, just the most evident differences are mentioned here; more details are given on individual species articles. The species are presented here according to their morphology and this order keeps no correspondence with phylogenetic relationships.
Regarding vegetative morphology '' Miltonia moreliana'' and '' Miltonia spectabilis'' can be immediately separated from the rest because their much flatter pseudobulbs, longer rhizome and inflorescences completely covered by flattened bracts that bear only one highly flat flower. These are the species with largest flowers in the genus. They are closely related and usually are recognized because the flowers of ''M. moreliana'' usually have dark purple petals and sepals and the lip of a lighter bright purple while ''M. spectabilis'' has very light purple or white petals and sepals and a purple veined labellum, however, the real technical difference among the species is on the proportions of their segments which are much wider. Despite colors are often mentioned to identify species they are not accepted by taxonomy as enough to establish distinct species by themselves. All other ''Miltonia'' species have similar vegetative appearance and only can be positively identified by their flowers.
Three species are unique: '' Miltonia flavescens'' has the most narrow flowers, almost star shaped, with all segments of straw color with some purple bots on the base of petals and sepals which are more intense on the labellum almost forming stripes; '' Miltonia candida'' is the only species with a labellum that embraces the column in a way that reminds the ''Cattleya
''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals.
Description
Epiphyte, Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots ...
'' species; '' Miltonia russelliana'' is the less showy of ''Miltonia'' species because its sepals and petals do not really open, being always bent over the column, revealing only the lighter tip of its purple labellum.
'' Miltonia regnellii'' shows the widest flower color variation among all ''Miltonia'' species; they can vary from white to yellow, pink and lilac with labelli also varying from white to dark purple. The flowers open in succession and slightly resemble the ones of ''M. spectabilis'' although much smaller. They actually are the ''Miltonia'' species with the smallest flowers.
'' Miltonia kayasimae'' and '' Miltonia cuneata'' are somewhat similar and possibly are closely related, both have straw color petals and sepals almost entirely covered by large brown stains and white labelli, however, they show different proportions on the flowers segments. ''M. kayasimae'' has much wider petals and sepals and smaller labellum which, moreover, has a larger and more salient and complex entirely purple callus on its base which is delicate, more straight and simple, and just occasionally purple dotted on its apex on ''M. cuneata''.
'' Miltonia clowesii'' has the same color pattern of ''M. russelliana'' with light yellow greenish brown sepals and petals completely covered with large darker dots or stains and labellum of bright purple at the base and lighter apex, however here they are whiter. On the other hand, ''M. clowesii'' flowers' pointed segments are larger and wide opened making it resemble a spider.
Natural hybrids
Considering its limited number of species, it is surprising that eight natural hybrids of ''Miltonia'' are currently known, a number that almost equals the number of species and also implies that the most important pollinator of the majority of the species possibly is the same. As the crossing of two species uses to produce variable plants most of these hybrids have been described more than once and some have three or four synonyms.
''M. spectabilis'' is the species which has produced the largest number of hybrids, five: '' Miltonia × bluntii'' when crossed with ''M. clowesii'', '' Miltonia × cogniauxiae'' with ''M. regnellii'', '' Miltonia × flava'' with ''M. flavescens'', '' Miltonia × leucoglossa'' with ''M. candida'' and '' Miltonia × rosina'' with '' M. cuneata'', furthermore it is possible there is also one with ''M. moreliana'', which has not yet been described because ''M. moreliana'' itself was earlier considered a variety of ''M. spectabilis''.
''M. candida'', besides the hybrid already mentioned with ''M. spectabilis'', also produced two others: '' Miltonia × binotii'' with ''M. regnellii'' and '' Miltonia × lamarckeana'' with ''M. clowesii''. The remaining hybrid, '' Miltonia × peetersiana'' was previously considered a synonym of ''M. × bluntii'' but because ''M. moreliana'' is now a species distinct from ''M. spectabilis'' it is its hybrid with ''M. clowesii'', which has entirely purple flowers instead the one with light brown petals and sepals.
* ''Miltonia'' × ''bluntii'' Rchb.f. (1879) (= ''Miltonia clowesii'' × ''Miltonia spectabilis'') (Brazil)
* ''Miltonia'' × ''cogniauxiae'' Peeters ex Cogn. & Gooss. (1900) (''Miltonia regnellii'' × ''Miltonia spectabilis'') (Brazil)
* ''Miltonia'' × ''cyrtochiloides'' Barb.Rodr. (1877) (''Miltonia flavescens'' × ''Miltonia spectabilis'') (Brazil)
* ''Miltonia'' × ''lamarckeana'' Rchb.f. (1885) (''Miltonia candida'' × ''Miltonia clowesii'') (Brazil)
Distribution
''Miltonia'' species range starts on the area of Missiones in the northeast of Argentina[Johnson, Andrés E. (2001). ''Miltonia flavescens'' in Las orquÃdeas del Parque Nacional Iguazú, 130. Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, Buenos Aires. ] and east of Paraguay[Govaerts, Rafaël ''et al'': World Checklist of Orchidaceae. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]
Published on Internet
(Access in March 2009). and spreads north along the Brazilian mountains of Serra do Mar
The Serra do Mar (; ) is a system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeast Region, Brazil, Southeastern Brazil.
Geography
The Serra do Mar runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast from the state of EspÃrito Santo to southern Santa Ca ...
and its branches up to the State of Pernambuco
Pernambuco ( , , ) is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of the country. With an estimated population of 9.5 million people as of 2024, it is the List of Brazilian states by population, ...
on Brazilian northeast. They occupy mostly areas between 200 and 1,500 meters of altitude meters, however the majority of the species are more often found about 600 to 900 meters. ''Miltonia'' species can be found from shady areas inside the forest to areas more exposed to the sun, however never are under full sunlight; usually in ventilated places where they receive plenty humidity during the night and early morning. They are always epiphyte and, because they grow very fast, each pseudobulb originating two new growths every year, they soon form large colonies.[Miller, David; Richard Warren; Izabel Moura Miller & Helmut Seehawer (2006). ''Miltonia'' in Serra dos Órgãos sua história e suas orquÃdeas, 323-6. Rio de Janeiro.]
''Miltonia russelliana'' and ''M. flavescens'' are the ones with the widest dispersion and found at lower altitudes. ''M. flavescens'' is the only species that exists in countries other than Brazil and is also the one that spreads farther north. ''M. russelliana'' range starts on Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul (, ; ; "Great River of the South") is a Federative units of Brazil, state in the South Region, Brazil, southern region of Brazil. It is the Federative units of Brazil#List, fifth-most populous state and the List of Brazilian s ...
and ends at Bahia
Bahia () is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Mina ...
State. ''M. regnellii'' is also widespread although does not go northern than Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
. ''M. moreliana'' is a species more common at lower altitudes and warmer areas existing from Rio to Pernambuco. ''Miltonia candida'', ''M. clowesii'' and ''M. spectabilis'' are restricted to the four states of Region Southeast of Brazil. ''Miltonia cuneata'' is just from São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
and Rio and the one that grow at highest altitudes. ''M. kayasimae'' is the only species really rare; it has been found just a couple of times in a very restricted area close to Salesópolis, in São Paulo State. The mountains area between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where almost all species do exist may be considered the center of distribution of ''Miltonia''.[Pabst, Guido & Dungs, Fritz (1978). Orchidaceae Brasilienses 2: 196, Brucke-Verlag Kurt Schmersow, Hildesheim. ]
Cultivation
Despite being easy to grow, ''Miltonia'' species tend to be subject to spots on their thin leaves, generally caused by fungi
A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
proliferation and normally, when exposed to the amount of light
Light, visible light, or visible radiation is electromagnetic radiation that can be visual perception, perceived by the human eye. Visible light spans the visible spectrum and is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400– ...
they need to a full bloom, their foliage
A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, f ...
gets a bit too yellow-colored, although they should never be exposed to full sunlight
Sunlight is the portion of the electromagnetic radiation which is emitted by the Sun (i.e. solar radiation) and received by the Earth, in particular the visible spectrum, visible light perceptible to the human eye as well as invisible infrare ...
. Finding the right balance of light exposure to avoid yellow leaves but still produce nice blooming is important and with some precautions the grower will succeed. They are not terribly sensitive to temperature
Temperature is a physical quantity that quantitatively expresses the attribute of hotness or coldness. Temperature is measurement, measured with a thermometer. It reflects the average kinetic energy of the vibrating and colliding atoms making ...
, but they do vary according to their species make-up and origin; ''M. cuneata'' being one that grows cooler and ''M. moreliana'' the warmer growing, but all species under intermediate temperature with at least 10 °C of variation between day and night. Despite the fact that they exhibit a rest period after blooming, ''Miltonia'' always need to be watered, and more abundantly during active growth and blooming. they need at least 65% relative humidity
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation (meteorology), precipitation, dew, or fog t ...
and good ventilation
Ventilation may refer to:
* Ventilation (physiology), the movement of air between the environment and the lungs via inhalation and exhalation
** Mechanical ventilation, in medicine, using artificial methods to assist breathing
*** Respirator, a ma ...
all the time. Moderate weekly fertilizing with a balanced formula is beneficial during active growth. They may be potted in a compost of half-chopped Sphagnum
''Sphagnum'' is a genus of approximately 380 accepted species of mosses, commonly known as sphagnum moss, also bog moss and quacker moss (although that term is also sometimes used for peat). Accumulations of ''Sphagnum'' can store water, since ...
, peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially Decomposition, decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, Moorland, moors, or muskegs. ''Sphagnum'' moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most ...
, and some medium-sized lumps of charcoal
Charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. In the traditional version of this pyrolysis process, ca ...
, or mounted on plaques of vegetable fiber, however if mounted they will need more frequent waterings.[Baker, Charles O & Baker, Margaret L. (2006), ''Miltonia'' in Orchid Species Culture Oncidium/Odontoglossum Alliance: 340-7, Timber Press. ]
Intergeneric hybrids
Hybrids between ''Miltonia'' and orchids from other genera are placed in the following nothogenera:
* × ''Aliceara'' (''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Aspodonia'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Bakerara'' (''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Beallara'' (''Brassia'' × ''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Biltonara'' (''Ada'' × ''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Blackara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia '' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Brilliandeara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Brassia'' × ''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Burrageara'' (''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Charlesworthara'' (''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Colmanara'' (''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Crawshayara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Degarmoara'' (''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Derosaara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'' × Odontoglossum)
* × ''Duggerara'' (''Ada'' × ''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Dunningara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Forgetara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Goodaleara'' (''Brassia'' × ''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Maunderara'' (''Ada'' × ''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Milpasia'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Milpilia'' (''Miltonia'' × ''Trichopilia'')
* × ''Miltada'' (''Ada'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Miltadium'' (''Ada'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Miltarettia'' (''Comparettia'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Miltassia'' (''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Miltistonia'' (''Baptistonia'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Miltonidium'' (''Miltonia'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Miltonioda'' (''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Morrisonara'' (''Ada'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Norwoodara'' (''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Oncidium'' × ''Rodriguezia'')
* × ''Odontonia'' (''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Rodritonia'' (''Miltonia'' × ''Rodriguezia'')
* × ''Sauledaara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Brassia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Oncidium'' × ''Rodriguezia'')
* × ''Schafferara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Brassia'' × ''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Schilligerara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Gomesa'' × ''Miltonia'')
* × ''Segerara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'')
* × ''Vanalstyneara'' (''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'' × ''Rodriguezia'')
* × ''Vuylstekeara'' (''Cochlioda'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'')
* × ''Withnerara'' (''Aspasia'' × ''Miltonia'' × ''Odontoglossum'' × ''Oncidium'')
References
Notes
*
* Miltonia Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 23: t. 1976 (1837)
* New species : Orchid Research Newsletter 47 (January 2006); Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.
External links
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2347758
Oncidiinae genera
Endemic orchids of Brazil
Flora of the Atlantic Forest
Epiphytic orchids