Isabelia

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Leptotes
Isabelia virginalis
Isabelia virginalis
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Laeliinae
Genus: Isabelia
Barb. Rodr. 1877
Type species
Isabelia virginalis
Barb. Rodr. 1877
Species
Synonym

Isabelia is an orchid genus formed by three tiny species and one natural hybrid, spread from Northeast of Brazil to Argentina, which are closely related to the genus Constantia. During more than a century Isabelia was a genus formed by just one species, however, around 1978, it was merged with genus Neolauchea, also unispecific. In 2001, a third genus was added to it, Sophronitella.

Distribution

Description

Isabelia have unifoliated ovoid to fusiform pseudobulbs; linear or acicular leaves; inflorescence bearing one of few flowers. The flowers the petals sepals and labellum of the same color, wich can be white, pale pink or magenta. Their sepals are widely elliptical to ovate, the petals can be narrower and oblong or wider elliptic. The labellum is entire and oblong. The labellum may be entirely free of partially fused to the column forming a nectary. The column is darker than the rest of the flower and may have four or eight pollinia.

Taxonomic notes

Species

The former genus Neolauchea, whose only species is now Isabelia pulchella, is the only with elongated rhyzome, therefore, very spaced pseudobulbs, toped by a highly narrow and long concave leave that almost seems to be terete at first sight. Their ovaries become visibly swallowed at their junction to the column foot where the base of the labellum is partially fused forming a nectary. It has four pollinia.

Former Sophronitella species, now Isabelia violacea, is the largest species of Isabelia; with a short rhyzome, more robust and erect pseudobulbs, with an almost flat leathery leaf. This species is the only to show more than one flowers per inflorescence, up to three. It has a free labellum eight pollinia.

The core Isabelia species, Isabelia virginalis, presents short reptant rhyzome with pseudobulbs of terete leaves, completely covered by dried stealths formed by a loose tissue of fibers interlaced as a rustic network. Their labelli are partially fused to the column forming a nectary eight pollinia.

There is a natural hibrid of I. pulchella with I. violacea, previously known as Isanitella x pabstii, now called Isabelia x pabstii.

References