Acriopsis

A. javanica (Image courtesy of Greg Steenbeeke) A. javanica
(Image courtesy of Greg Steenbeeke).

Described in 1825 by Reinwarth ex Blume in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie, this is a group of mainly epiphytic sympodial plants, probably with 12 species represented.

The genus is distributed in South-east Asia (the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia) to Australia.

Etymology: The source of the name is Greek acris (locust) and opsis (like) in reference to a similarity between the auricles on the column to the head of a locust.

The type species (genotype) is A. javanica Reinwarth ex Blume.

Similar and related genera include Thecostele H.G. Reichenbach f., Thecopus Seidenfaden, some Dendrobium Swartz species, Eria Lindley, some cymbidiums, and also Broughtonia R. Brown to an extent.

Characteristics: Species in this genus are distinguished in having clustered, short pseudobulbs with a mass of branched white roots (often some rising upwards around the base of the plant to form a litter trap), and erect, flattened leaves. The flowers have the lateral sepals fused together, and the petals are only slkightly smaller than the sepals. The labellum is 3-lobed and fused to the column at the base. The column is adorned with severall processes.  (imagery courtesy of )

The full taxonomic description of this genus is

  • Dressler (1993) classification: Subfamily Epidendroideae Lindley (Cymbidoid phylad), tribe Cymbidieae Pfitzer and subtribe Acriopsidinae Dressler.
  • Szlachetko (1995) classification: Family Orchidaceae Jussieu, Subfamily Vandoideae Endlicher, tribe Thecosteleae Pfitzer and subtribe Acriopsidinae Dressler.

    Reference material consulted in developing this page has included (but is not limited to) Index Kewensis (1998 CDrom version), Clements (1989), Jones (1988), Brummitt & Powell (1992), Dressler (1993b) and Szlachetko (1995).


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