''Bletia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial no ...

of about 30

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...

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 (

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideal ...

Orchidaceae), almost all of which are terrestrial; some are occasionally

lithophytic 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 ...

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a 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 epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

. It is named after

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botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek w ...

and

pharmacist A pharmacist, also known as a chemist ( Commonwealth English) or a druggist (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), is a healthcare professional who prepares, controls and distributes medicines and provides advice and instruc ...

Don Luis Blet. The genus is widespread across

Florida Florida is a U.S. state, state located in the Southeastern United States, 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 (U.S. state), Geo ...

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 Gua ...

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. ...

, the

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 Grea ...

, and South America as far south as

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref>Flora of North America v 26 p 602, genus ''Bletia''
/ref>

List of species

Accepted species as of May 2014: * '' Bletia adenocarpa'' Rchb.f. * '' Bletia amabilis'' C.Schweinf. * '' Bletia antillana'' M.A.Diaz & Sosa * '' Bletia campanulata'' Lex. * '' Bletia candida'' Kraenzl. * '' Bletia catenulata'' Ruiz & Pav. * '' Bletia coccinea'' Lex. * '' Bletia concolor'' Dressler * '' Bletia ensifolia'' L.O.Williams * '' Bletia florida'' (Salisb.) R.Br. * '' Bletia gracilis'' Lodd. * '' Bletia greenmaniana'' L.O.Williams * '' Bletia greenwoodiana'' Sosa * '' Bletia lilacina'' A.Rich. & Galeotti * '' Bletia macristhmochila'' Greenm. * '' Bletia meridana'' (Rchb.f.) Garay & Dunst. * '' Bletia neglecta'' Sosa * '' Bletia nelsonii'' Ames * '' Bletia netzeri'' Senghas * '' Bletia parkinsonii'' Hook. * '' Bletia parviflora'' Ruiz & Pav. * '' Bletia patula'' Hook. * '' Bletia punctata'' Lex. * '' Bletia purpurata'' A.Rich. & Galeotti * '' Bletia purpurea'' (Lam.) DC. * '' Bletia reflexa'' Lindl. * '' Bletia repanda'' Ruiz & Pav. * '' Bletia riparia'' Sosa & Palestina * '' Bletia roezlii'' Rchb.f. * '' Bletia similis'' Dressler * '' Bletia stenophylla'' Schltr. * '' Bletia tenuifolia'' Ames & C.Schweinf. * '' Bletia uniflora'' Ruiz & Pav. * '' Bletia urbana'' Dressler * '' Bletia warfordiana'' Sosa

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q311069 Orchids of Central America Orchids of North America Orchids of South America Epidendreae genera Orchids of Florida Orchids of Mexico Flora of the Caribbean