Genus of orchids From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Odontoglossum, first named in 1816 by Karl Sigismund Kunth, is a formerly accepted genus of orchids that is now regarded as a synonym of Oncidium.[1] Several hundred species have previously been placed in Odontoglossum.[2] 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.[3] 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, with most species around the northern Andes.[3] The abbreviation for this genus is Odm. in the horticultural trade.[4] Many of the species formerly placed in the genus are in great demand with orchid lovers because of their spectacular and flamboyant flowers.[citation needed]
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Most species formerly placed in the genus are sympodial epiphytes, or rarely terrestrials. The pseudobulbs are compact with leaf-like bracts at the base. They give one to three apical leaves.[5] An arching (and sometimes erect) inflorescence grows from its base. The ruffled sepals and petals of these spectacular flowers are spreading. The lip is rather complex, entire or with three lobes. It stands erect or parallel to the long column. 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.
Odontoglossum wyattianum Gurney Wilson = Oncidium wyattianum
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 (syn. Cochlioda noezliana).[citation needed]
Given the merge of Odontoglossum and Cochlioda into Oncidium, most of following nothogenus names are obsolete:[citation needed]
xAdaglossum: Ada x Odontoglossum
xAlexanderara: Brassia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum x Oncidium
xAndreettara J.M.H.Shaw: Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum
xAspodonia: Aspasia x Miltonia x Odontoglossum
xBakerara: Brassia x Miltonia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium
xBaldwinara: Aspasia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum x Oncidium
xBanfieldara: Ada x Brassia x Odontoglossum
xBarbosaara: Cochlioda x Gomesa x Odontoglossum x Oncidium
xBaumannara: Comparettia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium
xBeallara: Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum
xBiltonara: Ada x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum
xBlackara: Aspasia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum