Neuwiedia
Neuwiedia is a genus of primitive orchids (family Orchidaceae), comprising 9 terrestrial species.
The type species is Neuwiedia veratrifolia Blume 1834
The genus is distributed in shaded, damp areas from Malaysia, Borneo, Java to the Philippines, New Guinea and southwest of the Pacific. Like the genus Apostasia of the same subfamily, this genus is noted for having 3 fertile stamens instead of only one as in the case of most orchids. Because of this primitive characteristics, the genus was considered by some as not being true orchids.
The genus was named by Carl Ludwig von Blume in honor of Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied (1782-1859).
These primitive orchids are hairy, tall herbs without rhizomes. They grow long, plicate leaves. They produce an unbranched, erect, terminal inflorescence bearing usually white or yellow, nodding flowers
The type species is Neuwiedia veratrifolia Blume 1834
The genus is distributed in shaded, damp areas from Malaysia, Borneo, Java to the Philippines, New Guinea and southwest of the Pacific. Like the genus Apostasia of the same subfamily, this genus is noted for having 3 fertile stamens instead of only one as in the case of most orchids. Because of this primitive characteristics, the genus was considered by some as not being true orchids.
The genus was named by Carl Ludwig von Blume in honor of Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied (1782-1859).
These primitive orchids are hairy, tall herbs without rhizomes. They grow long, plicate leaves. They produce an unbranched, erect, terminal inflorescence bearing usually white or yellow, nodding flowers
FROM FLORA OF CHINAHerbs, erect. Rhizome usually retrorse, with several stout aerial roots. Stem often stiff and woody at base, not branched. Leaves several to many, plicate, basally contracted into a clasping, petiole-like stalk. Inflorescence erect, terminal, racemose, not branched; peduncle with several foliaceous sterile bracts; floral bracts relatively large, green. Flowers resupinate, almost actinomorphic, not opening widely; ovary 3-locular, distinct from pedicel. Sepals and petals often connivent. Sepals similar or lateral ones slightly oblique, fleshy. Petals similar; lip usually slightly different in shape and larger than petals. Column straight, often short, with 3 fertile stamens; central stamen often shorter than lateral ones; lateral stamens often with locules unequal in length; anthers free but filaments connate at base and adnate to style for much of their length; pollen not cohering to form pollinia; style narrowly cylindric, apex with slightly dilated stigma. Fruit either a berry or a dry capsule dehiscent at maturity. Seeds black, with rigid testa, sometimes with dilated elongate appendages at both ends
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