Isochilus

Isochilus
Scientific Classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family:Orchidaceae Subfamily: Epidendroideae Tribe: Epidendreae SubTribe: Laeliinae Alliance: Genus: Isochilus R. Brown 1813 Type Species Isochilus linearis

Isochilus is a genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae) with around 7 species.

Distribution

Plants in this genus are lowland epiphytes mainly found in Central America, from Cuba and Mexico to Argentina.

Description

Characteristics of this genus include slender canelike stems with narrow distichous flat leaves and small sessile tube flowers carried at the tip of the cane.

Culture

Plants should be grown in cool to warm temperature with bright light. Water about twice a week in the summer and reduce to once a week as winter approaches. Plants can be grown in a well drain coarse mixture of bark and perlite or mounted.

Naming

The genus is named after the similarities of the sepals, petals and lip

Synonyms

1. Isochilos Sprengl. 1826
2. Leptothrium Kth. 1815

Species

• Isochilus alatus Schltr., 1912.
• Isochilus aurantiacus Hamer & Garay in F.Hamer, 1981.
• Isochilus bracteatus (Lex.) Espejo & López-Ferr., 2000.
• Isochilus carnosiflorus Lindl., 1844.
• Isochilus chiriquensis Schltr., 1922.
• Isochilus langlassei Schltr., 1920.
• Isochilus latibracteatus A.Rich. & Galeotti, 1845.
• Isochilus linearis (Jacq.) R.Br. in W.T.Aiton, 1813.
• Isochilus major Cham. & Schltdl., 1831.
• Isochilus pitalensis Hamer & Garay in F.Hamer, 1981.
• Isochilus smithii H.G.Jones, 1975.
• Isochilus unilateralis B.L.Rob., 1894.