Pseudolaelia is a small genus belonging to the orchid family (Orchidaceae), the entire genus endemic to Brazil.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families The abbreviation used in the horticultural trade is Pdla.
Description The flowers of these orchids resemble those of Laelia, but the main difference between these two genera lies in the vegetative part.
These orchids occur exclusively in Eastern Brazil, often as epiphytes. Some are lithophytes, forming a thicket on the rocks. Others, as Pseudolaelia vellozicola, are semi-epiphytes and can be found on mat-like communities of Vellozia bushes on inselbergs (dome-shaped granitic or gneissic rock outcrops) in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, requiring an adaptation to the extreme environmental conditions (dryness, isolation)
The rhizomes are extended. The pseudobulbs are fusiform, cylindrical to conical, carrying three to eight leaves. These are apical, deciduous, upright, leathery and pointy. The base of the leaves clasps the pseudobulb from the upper third till the apex.
The inflorescence is a long raceme, growing from the apex of the pseudobulb, with an undefined number of small white to pink flowers, opening in a consecutive manner clustered at the apex.
Pollination is performed by hummingbirds, butterflies, dipterids and hymenopterids. The flowers of Pseudolaelia corcovadensis, being self-compatible, are also pollinated by deceit by the bee Bombus (Fervidobombus) atratus by mimicking a generalized bee-attracting food-flower. However, these visits are rather rare
Species of Pseudolaelia Species accepted as of June 2014:
Image Name Distribution Elevation (m)Pseudolaelia aromatica Campacci Minas Gerais around 490 meters Pseudolaelia ataleiensis Campacci Minas Gerais around 280 meters Pseudolaelia brejetubensis M.Frey Espírito Santo1100 – 1400 meters Pseudolaelia calimaniorum V.P.Castro & Chiron Espírito Santo1000 – 1400 meters Pseudolaelia canaanensis (Ruschi) F.Barros Espírito Santo300 – 1000 meters Pseudolaelia cipoensis Pabst Serra do Cipóaround 1400 meters Pseudolaelia citrina Pabst Minas Gerais, Espírito Santoaround 1200 meters Pseudolaelia corcovadensis Porto & Brade Rio de Janeiro 500 – 900 meters Pseudolaelia dutraei Ruschi Espírito Santo400 - 700 metrers Pseudolaelia freyi Chiron & V.P.Castro Espírito Santo1100 – 1400 meters Pseudolaelia geraensis Pabst Minas Gerais Pseudolaelia irwiniana Pabst Serra do Espinhaçoaround 900 meters Pseudolaelia maquijiensis M.Frey Espírito Santoaround 700 meters Pseudolaelia oliveirana V.P.Castro & Chiron Espírito Santo400 – 600 meters Pseudolaelia pavopolitana M.Frey Espírito Santoaround 350 meters Pseudolaelia pitengoensis Campacci Minas Geraisaround 600 meters Pseudolaelia regentii V.P.Castro & Marçal Bahia Pseudolaelia vellozicola (Hoehne) Porto & Brade Bahia, Espírito Santo 1000 – 1400 meters
Natural hybrids Pseudolaelia × perimii M.Frey - Espírito Santo (P. brejetubensis × P. freyi)
References
Books (in French)
External links