Laelia

Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Automatic taxobox

Laelia is a small genus of 25 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae).<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Laelia species are found in areas of subtropical or temperate climate in Central and South America, but mostly in Mexico.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref> Laelia is abbreviated L. in the horticultural trade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Description

Mostly epiphyte herbs (with a few lithophytes) with laterally compressed pseudobulbs.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref> One to four leathery or fleshy leaves are born near the top of each pseudobulb, and can be broadly ovate to oblong.<ref name=":2" /> The inflorescence is a terminal raceme (rarely a panicle).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The flowers have 8 pollinia; petals are of a thinner texture than the sepals; sepals and petals are of similar shape, but the sepals being narrower; the lip or labellum is free from the arched flower column.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Distribution

Species of Laelia can be found from western Mexico south to Bolivia, from sea level to mountain forests.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Taxonomy

The genus Laelia was described as part of subfamily Epidendroideae by John Lindley.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Brazilian Laelias, after being classified for several years under Sophronitis,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> have now been placed in the genus Cattleya.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Moreover, species formerly placed in the genus Schomburgkia have been moved either to the genus Laelia or Myrmecophila.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Laelia gouldiana

Species

Laelia comprises the following species:<ref name=":0" />

Image	Name	Distribution	Elevation (m)
	Laelia albida Bateman ex Lindl. 1839	Mexico	Template:Convert
	Laelia anceps Lindl. 1835	Mexico and Honduras	Template:Convert
	Laelia aurea A.Navarro 1990	Mexico ( Durango, Sinaloa and Nayarit )	Template:Convert
	Laelia autumnalis (Lex.) Lindl. 1831	Mexico	Template:Convert
	Laelia colombiana J.M.H.Shaw 2008	Colombia and Venezuela
	Laelia elata (Schltr.) J.M.H.Shaw 2009	Colombia
	Laelia eyermaniana Rchb.f. 1888	Mexico (Nayarit, Michoacán, and Jalisco, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, and Querétaro. Halbinger)	Template:Convert
	Laelia furfuracea Lindl. 1839	Mexico (Oxaca)	Template:Convert
	Laelia gloriosa (Rchb.f.) L.O.Williams 1860	Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and northern Brazil	Template:Convert
	Laelia gouldiana Rchb.f. 1888	Mexico Hidalgo	Template:Convert
	Laelia × halbingeriana Salazar & Soto Arenas	Oaxaca, Mexico	Template:Convert
	Laelia heidii (Carnevali) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase 2004	Colombia and Venezuela
	Laelia lueddemannii (Prill.) L.O.Williams 1940	Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela	Template:Convert
	Laelia lyonsii (Lindl.) L.O.Williams 1941	Cuba and Jamaica	Template:Convert
	Laelia marginata (Lindl.) L.O.Williams 1941	Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Northern Brazil
	Laelia mottae Archila, Chiron, Szlach. & Pérez-García 2014	Guatemala	Template:Convert
	Laelia moyobambae (Schltr.) C.Schweinf. 1944	Bolivia and Peru
	Laelia rosea (Linden ex Lindl.) C.Schweinf. 1967	Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana
	Laelia rubescens Lindl. 1840	Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua	Template:Convert
	Laelia schultzei (Schltr.) J.M.H.Shaw 2008	Colombia
	Laelia speciosa (Kunth) Schltr. 1914	Mexico	Template:Convert
	Laelia splendida (Schltr.) L.O.Williams 1941	Colombia and Ecuador	Template:Convert
	Laelia superbiens Lindl. 1840	Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua	Template:Convert
	Laelia undulata (Lindl.) L.O.Williams 1941	Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Trinidad, Venezuela	Template:Convert
	Laelia weberbaueriana (Kraenzl.) C.Schweinf. 1944	Peru and Bolivia	Template:Convert

Ecology

Species in this genus are found in forests from sea level to mountain habitats above 2000 m.<ref name=":1" /> Species from above 2000 m of elevation like L. albida, and L. autumnalis are adapted to temperate climates and can be grown outdoors in places like the Mexican Plateau, California and other subtropical areas with cool summers.<ref name=":1" />

Laelia is one of the orchid genera known to use crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis,Template:Citation needed which reduces evapotranspiration during daylight because carbon dioxide is collected at night.

Cultivation

Laelias can be grown fastened to tree trunks, as long as the tree won't cast a deep shadow; they can also be fastened to a piece of branch or a slab of cork so they can be hung in a place facing south.<ref name=":1" /> The growing medium must have good drainage, rapidly drying after watering; pieces of pine bark, charcoal or pebbles are good choices.<ref name=":1" /> If grown mounted they definitely need approximately 50–70% humidity, while cooler temperatures increase the blooming process.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Watering can be done 2–3 times a week, but with lower frequency in winter.<ref name=":1" /> Fertilization can be done with a very dilute solution, twice a month especially during growing season (May to November in Northern Hemisphere).<ref name=":1" />

Nothogenera

Hybrids of Laelia with other orchid genera are placed in the following nothogenera (this list is incomplete):

• × Laeliocattleya (Lc.) = Cattleya × Laelia
• × Laeliocatonia (Lctna.) = Broughtonia × Cattleya × Laelia
• × Laeliocatarthron (Lcr.) = Cattleya × Caularthron × Laelia
• × Sophrolaelia (Sl.) = Laelia × Sophronitis

Rhyncholaelia is a distinct genus rather than a nothogenus.

External links

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