Epiphytic herbs. Pseudobulbs short, fleshy, ovoid, subconic or subpyramidal, often abruptly 4-angulate or laterally compressed, the bases enveloped in 2-3 fibrous, imbricating bracts, the apex with 1-2 lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, plicate, strongly veined, acute or acuminate leaves. There are two quite distinctive groups of species, one of which has been segregated by Schlechter as a separate genus under the name Lindleyella. Schweinfurth (Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 11:246. 1944) has pointed out that the floral characters proposed by Schlechter for such separation are equally applicable to species of the other group, so that it is impossible to accept Lindleyella as a valid generic concept. However, since the groups are sufficiently distinctive to be separated on gross characters alone, the name proposed by Schlechter is retained as a section, simply for purposes of convenience. On this basis, those species superficially resembling Bifrenaria atropurpurea, the generic type with 1-3 large flowers on short erect racemes, are considered as representing the section EUBIFRENARIA, while those resembling Bifrenaria picta and B. aurantiaca, with many small flowers on elongate arching racemes, are considered as representing the section LINDLEYELLA. In both sections of the genus, the sepals are free, subequal, spreading, the laterals adnate to the column foot, forming a short or elongate spur-like mentum. Petals subequal to the dorsal sepal or smaller. Lip 3-lobed, articulated at the base with the foot of the column, lateral lobes erect, the mid-lobe spreading, entire or bifid; disk fleshy, lamellate, denticulate or hirsute. Column erect, thickened, semiterete, wingless, produced at the base into an elongate foot. Anther terminal, operculate, incumbent, strongly convex, sometimes cristate on the dorsal surface, 1-celled or imperfectly 2-celled; pollinia 2 or 4, waxy.
Home