Orchidaceae

Altensteinia

Representative Image
Representative image.

Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Genus Parent: Orchidaceae Status: Valid

Morphological Description

Diagnosis: Altensteinia is closely related to the genera Aa and Myrosmodes but differ by having lips that are either flat and spoon-shaped or somewhat tubular usually by a constriction at the middle of the lip or by incurved lateral margins. The sepals and petals of Altensteinia typically curl backward giving prominence to the lip.

Vegetative Morphology

Habit: Terrestrials with fleshy fasciculate roots.

Leaves: Leaves rosulate or diminishing in size from the base and grading with foliaceous bracts, sessile, lanceolate.

Reproductive Morphology

Inflorescence: Inflorescences terminal pedunculate spicate racemes.

Flowers: Flowers not resupinate. Sepals and petals subsimilar, free or somewhat fused, often ciliate. Lip unlobed, concave, without callus. Column short, stout, club-shaped; pollinia 4, sessile on a V-shaped viscidium.