''Pseudovanilla'', commonly known as giant climbing orchids, is a
genus of eight climbing
orchids in the
family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have tall climbing stems with clinging roots, leaf-like
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 and branching flowering stems with colourful, spreading
sepals and
petal
Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s. Species in the genus are
native to
Indonesia, the
Philippines,
New Guinea,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
,
Solomons,
Micronesia and
Fiji
Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...
.
[Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.C. & Rasmussen, F.N. (2003). Genera Orchidacearum 3: 319. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.]
List of species
The following is a list of species of ''Pseudovanilla'' recognised by the
World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at November 2020:
* ''
Pseudovanilla affinis
''Pseudovanilla'', commonly known as giant climbing orchids, is a genus of eight climbing orchids in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have tall climbing stems with clinging roots, leaf-like bracts and branching flowering stems with ...
''
(J.J.Sm.
Johannes Jacobus Smith (Antwerp 29 June 1867 – Oegstgeest 14 January 1947) (sometimes written as Joannes Jacobus Smith) was a Dutch Botany, botanist who, between years 1905 to 1924, crossed the islands of the Dutch East Indies (mainly Java (isl ...
) Garay (1986) - Java
* ''
Pseudovanilla anomala
''Pseudovanilla'', commonly known as giant climbing orchids, is a genus of eight climbing orchids in the Family (biology), family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have tall climbing stems with clinging roots, leaf-like bracts and branching flo ...
''
( Ames & L.O.Williams Louis Otho (Otto) Williams (1908-1991) was a botanist from Wyoming. He received his BA and MA from the University of Wyoming then a PhD from Washington University in St. Louis. He went on to be editor of the '' American Orchid Society Bulletin''. Wh ...
) Garay (1986) - Fiji
* ''
Pseudovanilla foliata
''Pseudovanilla foliata'', commonly known as the great climbing orchid, is a plant in the Orchidaceae, orchid family native to Queensland, New South Wales, and New Guinea. It is a terrestrial orchid with a vine, vining vegetative habit, climbing ...
''
( F.Muell.) Garay (1986) - Queensland, New South Wales, New Guinea
* ''
Pseudovanilla gracilis
''Pseudovanilla'', commonly known as giant climbing orchids, is a genus of eight climbing orchids in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have tall climbing stems with clinging roots, leaf-like bracts and branching flowering stems with ...
''
(Schltr.
Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter (16 October 1872 – 16 November 1925) was a German taxonomist, botanist, and author of several works on orchids.
He went on botanical expeditions in Africa, Indonesia, New Guinea, South and Central America a ...
) Garay (1986) - New Guinea, Solomon Islands
* ''
Pseudovanilla montigena
''Pseudovanilla'', commonly known as giant climbing orchids, is a genus of eight climbing orchids in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have tall climbing stems with clinging roots, leaf-like bracts and branching flowering stems with ...
''
(Schltr.) Ormerod (2001) - New Guinea
* ''
Pseudovanilla philippinensis
''Pseudovanilla'', commonly known as giant climbing orchids, is a genus of eight climbing orchids in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have tall climbing stems with clinging roots, leaf-like bracts and branching flowering stems with ...
''
( Ames) Garay (1986) - Luzon
* ''
Pseudovanilla ponapensis
''Pseudovanilla'', commonly known as giant climbing orchids, is a genus of eight climbing orchids in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have tall climbing stems with clinging roots, leaf-like bracts and branching flowering stems with ...
''
( Kaneh. & Yamam.) Garay (1986) - Pohnpei
* ''
Pseudovanilla ternatensis
''Pseudovanilla'', commonly known as giant climbing orchids, is a genus of eight climbing orchids in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus have tall climbing stems with clinging roots, leaf-like bracts and branching flowering stems with ...
''
(J.J.Sm.
Johannes Jacobus Smith (Antwerp 29 June 1867 – Oegstgeest 14 January 1947) (sometimes written as Joannes Jacobus Smith) was a Dutch Botany, botanist who, between years 1905 to 1924, crossed the islands of the Dutch East Indies (mainly Java (isl ...
) Garay (1986) - Ternate Island
References
* (1986) Botanical Museum Leaflets 30: 234.
External links
Vanilloideae genera
Orchids of Oceania
Orchids of Australia
Orchids of Indonesia
Orchids of New Guinea
Orchids of the Philippines
Flora of the Solomon Islands (archipelago)
Flora of Micronesia
Flora of Fiji
{{Vanilloideae-stub