Maxillaria

Maxillaria, abbreviated as Max in the horticultural trade, is a large genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae). This is a diverse genus, with very different morphological forms. Their characteristics can vary widely. They are commonly called spider orchids, flame orchids or tiger orchids. Their scientific name is derived from the Latin word maxilla, meaning jawbone, reflecting on the column and the base of the lip of some species, that may evoke a protruding jaw.

Maxillaria
Coconut pie orchid (Maxillaria tenuifolia)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Cymbidieae
Subtribe: Maxillariinae
Genus: Maxillaria
Ruiz & Pavon
Type species
Maxillaria platypetala
Ruiz & Pavon (1794)
Species

Many, see list of Maxillaria species

Synonyms[1]
List
    • Adamanthus Szlach.
    • Anthosiphon Schltr.
    • Aucellia Szlach. & Sitko
    • Bolbidium (Lindl.) Lindl.
    • Brasiliorchis R.B.Singer, S.Koehler & Carnevali
    • Calawaya Szlach. & Sitko
    • Camaridium Lindl.
    • Chaseopsis Szlach. & Sitko
    • Chelyella Szlach. & Sitko
    • Christensonella Szlach., Mytnik, Górniak & Smiszek
    • Chrysocycnis Linden & Rchb.f.
    • Cryptocentrum Benth.
    • Cyrtidiorchis Rauschert
    • Cyrtidium Schltr.
    • Cyrtoglottis Schltr.
    • Dicrypta Lindl.
    • Heterotaxis Lindl.
    • Hoehnella Szlach. & Sitko
    • Hylaeorchis Carnevali & G.A.Romero
    • Inti M.A.Blanco
    • Laricorchis Szlach.
    • Mapinguari Carnevali & R.B.Singer
    • Marsupiaria Hoehne
    • Maxillariella M.A.Blanco & Carnevali
    • Menadena Raf.
    • Mormolyca Fenzl
    • Neo-urbania Fawc. & Rendle
    • Nitidobulbon Ojeda, Carnevali & G.A.Romero
    • Ornithidium Salisb. ex R.Br.
    • Pittierella Schltr.
    • Pityphyllum Schltr.
    • Pseudocymbidium Szlach. & Sitko
    • Pseudomaxillaria Hoehne
    • Psittacoglossum Lex.
    • Rhetinantha M.A.Blanco
    • Sauvetrea Szlach.
    • Sepalosaccus Schltr.
    • Siagonanthus Poepp. & Endl.
    • Trigonidium Lindl.
    • Vazquezella Szlach. & Sitko
    • Viracocha Szlach. & Sitko
    • Xanthoxerampellia Szlach. & Sitko

Recent molecular studies have found Maxillaria as it has long been viewed to be an unnatural hodgepodge composed of groups not closely related to each other. Hence it has been proposed that the genus should be split into several genera. Some of the species long considered members of Maxillaria have been proposed to be moved to other genera: Brasiliorchis, Camaridium, Christensonella, Heterotaxis, Inti, Mapinguari, Maxillariella, Mormolyca, Nitidobulbon, Ornithidium, Rhetinantha, Sauvetrea.[2][3][4]

Distribution and ecology

Maxillaria species still included in the smaller version of the genus are distributed in the rainforest at sea level to elevations of 3,500 m, in Latin America from central Mexico to Bolivia, as well as in the West Indies.[5] This is an indication for the different temperature requirements, from warm growing to cold growing, within the genus.

They are mostly epiphytes, rather large in size, but some are terrestrials or even lithophytes (such as M. rupestris).

Many species are rather large with rampant growth.

Characteristics

Their pseudobulbs are round or oblong and each carry one or two lanceolate leaves. Some grow close together in a clustered manner on a short rhizome, while in other species the pseudobulbs keep some distance on an elongate rhizome. This rhizome is clothed in a somewhat transparent, silvery-gray velamen.

The flowers grow solitary on short stalks, called scapes, from the base of the pseudobulb. Most are small to very small, but some species carry large, showy flowers. The flowers are never longer than the leaves. Their free petals and sepals have a typically curved and adnate labellum with three inconspicuous lobes. Or the lip may have a distinct callus on the disc ( = central part of the lip from which the lobes radiate). The papillae (= small warts like glands) and the trichomes of the lip show great diversity. The most common form for the papillae is the conical form with rounded or pointed tips.

Cultivation

Maxillaria is not one of the popular genera among growers. Only a few species grow big, showy flowers. But some species are nevertheless sought by collectors, mostly for the fragrance of their blossoms, such as Maxillaria tenuifolia.

References
  1. "Maxillaria Ruiz & Pav". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  2. Blanco, M.A. et al. 2007. Generic realignments in Maxillarinae (Orchidaceae). Lankasteriana 7(3):515-537
  3. Singer, R.B.; Koehler, S. & Carnevali, G. (2007), "Brasiliorchis: A New Genus for the Maxillaria picta Alliance (Orchidaceae, Maxillariinae)", Novon, 17 (1): 91–99, doi:10.3417/1055-3177(2007)17[91:BANGFT]2.0.CO;2, S2CID 86568433
  4. Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.C. & Rasmussen, F.N. (2009). Epidendroideae (Part two). Genera Orchidacearum 5: 1-585. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
  5. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  • Dr. Karlheinz Senghas - Maxillaria, un genre chaotique - Richardiana
  • Eric A. Christenson - Vue d’ensemble du genre Maxillaria - Richardiana
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