''Odontoglossum'', first named in 1816 by

Karl Sigismund Kunth Carl Sigismund Kunth (18 June 1788 – 22 March 1850) was a German botanist. He was also known as Karl Sigismund Kunth or anglicized as Charles Sigismund Kunth. He was one of the early systematic botanists who focused on studying the plants of th ...

, is a formerly accepted

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

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 ...

s that is now regarded as a synonym of ''

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 ...

''. Several hundred species have previously been placed in ''Odontoglossum''. The scientific name of the genus is derived from the Greek words ''odon'' (tooth) and ''glossa'' (tongue), referring to the two tooth-like calluses on the base of 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 ...

. Species formerly placed in this genus are cool to cold growing orchids to be found on open spots in the humid cloud forest at higher elevations from Central- and West South America to

Guyana Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic British West Indies. entry "Guyana" Georgetown, Guyana, Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and is also the co ...

, with most species around the northern

Andes The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...

. The abbreviation for this genus is ''Odm''. in the horticultural trade. Many of the species formerly placed in the genus are in great demand with orchid lovers because of their spectacular and flamboyant flowers.

Description

Most species formerly placed in the genus are sympodial

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 ...

s, or rarely terrestrials. The

pseudobulbs 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 ''heterob ...

are compact with leaf-like bracts at the base. They give one to three apical

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, ...

. An arching (and sometimes erect) inflorescence grows from its base. The ruffled

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

s and

petal Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...

s of these spectacular

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are spreading. The

is rather complex, entire or with three lobes. It stands erect or parallel to the long

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 ...

. The high altitude species show long inflorescences with up to 150 flowers (as in ''O. cirrhosum''), while the lower altitude species have shorter inflorescences with up to 20 flowers. These flowers may be white, red, purple, brown, yellow, or even be blotched with a showy blend of many colors.

Former species

This genus used to contain more than 400 species. Many have now been reclassified in other genera such as ''

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 ...

'', ''

Cuitlauzina ''Cuitlauzina'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains 8 recognized species, native to Mexico, Central America and Colombia. Species See also * List of Orchidaceae genera This is a list of genera in t ...

'', ''

Cyrtochilum ''Cyrtochilum'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to the Caribbean and to South America from Costa Rica to Peru. The genus was established by Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1978. Species , Plants of the World Online P ...

'', ''

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''.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 ...

'', '' Oliveriana'', ''

'', ''

Otoglossum ''Otoglossum'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae, native to South America and Central America.Jenny, R. (2010). ''Otoglossum'', una revisión taxonómica. Orquideología 27: 63-95. Description They are plants of ...

'', ''

Rhynchostele ''Rhynchostele'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae, native to Mexico, Central America and Venezuela. The genus name is abbreviated as ''Rst.'' in the horticultural trade. Species At the present time (May 2014), 1 ...

'' and ''

Rossioglossum ''Rossioglossum'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It has 9 currently recognized species (as of May 2014), all native to Mexico, Central America, and northern and western South America. List of species , Plan ...

''. These new genera occurred outside the Andes in different climatological habitats. Many species have been transferred to ''

'': *''Odontoglossum alberti'' P.Ortiz = ''

Oncidium alberti ''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 M ...

'' *''Odontoglossum alvarezii'' P.Ortiz = ''

Oncidium alvarezii ''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 M ...

'' *''Odontoglossum ariasii'' Dalström = ''

Oncidium manuelariasii ''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 M ...

'' *''Odontoglossum armatum'' Rchb.f. = ''

Oncidium armatum ''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 M ...

'' *''Odontoglossum aspidorhinum'' F.Lehm. = ''

Oncidium aspidorhinum ''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 M ...

'' *''Odontoglossum astranthum'' Linden & Rchb.f. = ''

Oncidium astranthum ''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 M ...

'' *''Odontoglossum aurarium'' = ''

Oncidium aurarium ''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 M ...

'' *''Odontoglossum auriculatum'' Rolfe = ''

Oncidium auriculatum ''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 M ...

'' *''Odontoglossum blandum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium blandum'' *''Odontoglossum boddaertianum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium constrictum'' *''Odontoglossum callacallaense'' D.E.Benn. & Christenson = '' Oncidium callacallaense'' *''Odontoglossum cirrhosum'' Lindl. = '' Oncidium cirrhosum'' *''Odontoglossum constrictum'' Lindl. = '' Oncidium constrictum'' *''Odontoglossum contaypacchaense'' D.E.Benn. & Christenson = '' Oncidium contaypacchaense'' *''Odontoglossum crinitum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium crinitum'' *''Odontoglossum crispum'' Lindl. = '' Oncidium alexandrae'' *''Odontoglossum cristatellum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium cristatellum'' *''Odontoglossum cristatum'' Lindl. in G.Bentham = '' Oncidium cristatum'' *''Odontoglossum crocidipterum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium crocidipterum'' *''Odontoglossum cruentum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium cruentoides'' *''Odontoglossum digitatum'' C.Schweinf. = '' Oncidium digitoides'' *''Odontoglossum dormanianum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium crocidipterum'' *''Odontoglossum dracoceps'' Dalström = '' Oncidium dracoceps'' *''Odontoglossum epidendroides'' Kunth = '' Oncidium epidendroides'' *''Odontoglossum gloriosum'' Linden & Rchb.f. = ''

Oncidium gloriosum ''Oncidium gloriosum'', synonym ''Odontoglossum gloriosum'', is a species of flowering plant in the family ''Orchidaceae''. This orchid is native to Colombia and Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a c ...

'' *''Odontoglossum gramazuense'' D.E.Benn. & Christenson = '' Oncidium gramazuense'' *''Odontoglossum hallii'' Lindl. = ''

Oncidium hallii ''Oncidium hallii'', synonyms including ''Odontoglossum hallii'', is a species of orchid native to Colombia and Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the n ...

'' *''Odontoglossum harryanum'' Rchb.f. = ''

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 wer ...

'' *''Odontoglossum hauensteinii'' Königer = '' Oncidium hauensteinii'' *''Odontoglossum helgae'' Königer = '' Oncidium gayi'' *''Odontoglossum heterosepalum'' = '' Oncidium heterosepalum'' *''Odontoglossum hrubyanum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium cruentoides'' *''Odontoglossum juninense'' Schltr. = '' Oncidium juninense'' *''Odontoglossum kegeljanii'' E.Morren = '' Oncidium kegeljanii'' *''Odontoglossum lindleyanum'' Rchb.f. & Warsz. = ''

Oncidium lindleyoides ''Oncidium lindleyoides'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. It was first described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1854 as ''Odontoglossum lindleyanum''. When transferred to ' ...

'' *''Odontoglossum llanachagaense'' D.E.Benn. & Christenson = '' Oncidium llanachagaense'' *''Odontoglossum lucianianum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium lucianianum'' *''Odontoglossum luteopurpureum'' Lindl. = ''

Oncidium luteopurpureum ''Oncidium luteopurpureum'', synonym ''Odontoglossum luteopurpureum'', is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colom ...

'' *''Odontoglossum machupicchuense'' D.E.Benn. & Christenson = '' Oncidium machupicchuense'' *''Odontoglossum mapiriense'' Mansf. = ''

'' *''Odontoglossum micklowii'' Dalström = '' Oncidium micklowii'' *''Odontoglossum mirandum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium mirandum'' *''Odontoglossum multistellare'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium multistellare'' *''Odontoglossum naevium'' Lindl. = '' Oncidium naevium'' *''Odontoglossum nevadense'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium nevadense'' *''Odontoglossum nobile'' Rchb.f. = ''

Oncidium nobile ''Oncidium nobile'', synonym ''Odontoglossum nobile'', is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular reg ...

'' *''Odontoglossum odoratum'' Lindl. = '' Oncidium odoratum'' *''Odontoglossum platynaris'' Dalström = '' Oncidium platynaris'' *''Odontoglossum portillae'' Bockemühl = '' Oncidium portillae'' *''Odontoglossum portmannii'' Bockemühl = '' Oncidium portmannii'' *''Odontoglossum povedanum'' P.Ortiz = '' Oncidium povedanum'' *''Odontoglossum praenitens'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium praenitens'' *''Odontoglossum praestans'' Rchb.f. & Warsz. = '' Oncidium praestanoides'' *''Odontoglossum reversum'' Bockemühl = '' Oncidium reversum'' *''Odontoglossum rhynchanthum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium rhynchanthum'' *''Odontoglossum sanderianum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium constrictum'' *''Odontoglossum sceptrum'' Rchb.f. & Warsz. = '' Oncidium sceptrum'' *''Odontoglossum schillerianum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium schillerianum'' *''Odontoglossum spectatissimum'' Lindl. = '' Oncidium spectatissimum'' *''Odontoglossum subuligerum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium subuligerum'' *''Odontoglossum tenue'' Cogn. = '' Oncidium tenuoides'' *''Odontoglossum tenuifolium'' Dalström = '' Oncidium tenuifolium'' *''Odontoglossum tripudians'' Rchb.f. & Warsz. = '' Oncidium tripudians'' *''Odontoglossum velleum'' Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium velleum'' *''Odontoglossum vierlingii'' Senghas = '' Oncidium vierlingii'' *''Odontoglossum wallisii'' Linden & Rchb.f. = '' Oncidium wallisii'' *''Odontoglossum wyattianum'' Gurney Wilson = '' Oncidium wyattianum''

Intergeneric hybrids

''Odontoglossum'' lent itself to the production of many artificial intergeneric hybrids. The hybrids with red pigmentation are nearly all derived from a crossing with species formerly placed in the genus ''Cochlioda'' and especially with ''

Oncidium noezlianum ''Oncidium noezlianum'' is a species of plant in the genus Oncidium in the family Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family (biology), family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that ...

'' (syn. ''Cochlioda noezliana''). Given the merge of ''Odontoglossum'' and ''Cochlioda'' into ''Oncidium'', most of following nothogenus names are obsolete: * x''Adaglossum'' : ''Ada '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Alexanderara'' : ''Brassia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Andreettara'' J.M.H.Shaw : ''Cochlioda'' x ''Miltonia'' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Aspodonia'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Bakerara'' : ''Brassia '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Baldwinara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Banfieldara'' : ''Ada '' x ''Brassia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Barbosaara'' : ''Cochlioda '' x ''Gomesa '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Baumannara'' : ''Comparettia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Beallara'' : ''Brassia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Biltonara'' : ''Ada '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Blackara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia'' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Brassia'' R. Br. 1813 ''Cochlioda'' Lindl. 1853 × ''Miltonia'' Lindl. 1837 × ''Odontoglossum'' Kunth 1816 * x''Brillandeara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Brassia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Brummittara'' : ''Comparettia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Rodriguezia'' * x''Burkhardtara'' : ''Leochilus '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium '' x ''Rodriguezia'' * x''Burrageara'' : ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Cambria'' : ''Brassia'' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia'' x ''Oncidium'' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Campbellara'' : ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium '' x ''Rodriguezia'' * x''Carpenterara'' : ''Baptistonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Colmanara'' : ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Degarmoara'' : ''Brassia '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Derosaara'' : ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Aspasia '' x ''Brassia'' * x''Doncollinara'' : ''Cochlioda '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Rodriguezia'' * x''Gomoglossum'' : ''Gomesa '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Goodaleara'' : ''Brassia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Hamiltonara'' : ''Ada '' x ''Brassia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Kriegerara'' : ''Ada '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Lagerara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Maclellanara'' : ''Brassia'' x ''Odontoglossum'' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Maunderara'' : ''Ada '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Miltodontrum'' J.M.H.Shaw 2004 : (''Miltonia'' Lindl. x ''Odontoglossum'' Kunth x ''Trichocentrum'' Poepp. & Endl.). * x''Morrisonara'' : ''Ada '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Miltonia'' * x''Odontioda '' : ''Odontoglossum'' x ''Cochlioda'' * x''Odontobrassia'' : ''Brassia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Odontocentrum'' J.M.H.Shaw 2004 : (''Odontoglossum'' Kunth x ''Trichocentrum'' Poepp. & Endl.). * x''Odontocidium'' : ''Odontoglossum'' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Odontokoa'' J.M.H.Shaw 2004 : (''Odontoglossum'' Kunth x ''Zelenkoa'' M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams). * x''Odontonia'' : ''Miltonia'' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Odontopilia'' : ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Trichopilia'' * x''Odontorettia'' : ''Comparettia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Odontozelencidium'' J.M.H.Shaw 2004 : (''Odontoglossum'' Kunth x ''Oncidium'' Sw. x ''Zelenkoa'' M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams). * x''Rhyntonossum'' J.M.H.Shaw 2004 : (''Miltonia'' Lindl. x ''Odontoglossum'' Kunth x ''Rhynchostele'' Rchb.f.). * x''Richardsonara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Roccaforteara'' : ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Aspasia '' x ''Brassia '' x ''Cochlioda'' * x''Rodriglossum'' : ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Rodriguezia'' * x''Ruppara'' : ''Gomesa'' x ''Odontoglossum'' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Sanderara'' : ''Brassia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Schafferara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Brassia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Segerara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Oncidium '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Shiveara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Brassia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Stewartara'' : ''Ada '' x ''Cochlioda '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Vanalstyneara'' : ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium '' x ''Rodriguezia'' * x''Vuylstekeara'' : ''Cochlioda'' x ''Miltonia'' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Watsonara'' J.M.H.Shaw 2004 : (''Brassia'' R.Br. x ''Odontoglossum'' Kunth x ''Oncidium'' Sw. x ''Trichocentrum'' Poepp. & Endl.) * x''Wilsonara'' : ''Cochlioda'' x ''Odontoglossum'' x ''Oncidium'' * x''Wingfieldara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Brassia '' x ''Odontoglossum'' * x''Withnerara'' : ''Aspasia '' x ''Miltonia '' x ''Odontoglossum '' x ''Oncidium''

References

{{Authority control Historically recognized angiosperm genera Epiphytic orchids