Peristeria is a genus of plants of the family Orchidaceae[2] commonly called dove orchid or Holy Ghost orchid. In line with the common name, the genus' name is from the Greek word peristerion meaning "from dove". According to the Royal Horticultural Society, Per is the official orchid abbreviation for this genus. In nature, it is found across much of South America as well as in Panama, Costa Rica and Trinidad.[1]

Peristeria
Peristeria elata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Subtribe: Coeliopsidinae
Genus: Peristeria
Hook.
Type species
Peristeria elata
Species
Synonyms[1]

Eckartia Rchb. f.

Peristeria elata is the national flower of Panama and is extremely over-collected in its native habitat. This over collection has led to its status as a species threatened with extinction delineated in Appendix I of CITES. In its native habitat, Peristeria can usually be found growing near the edge of hardwood forests. In the fall, after the trees in the hardwood forest lose their leaves, the plants are exposed to full sun throughout the cool, dry winter. Species in this genus are either epiphytic or terrestrial in growth habit.

Species

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Image Scientific name Distribution Elevation (m)
Peristeria aspersa Rolfe 1890 Brazil (Amazonas), Venezuela, French Guiana
  Peristeria cerina Lindl. 1837 Panama to Trinidad and Brazil (Pará) 200–1,000 metres (660–3,280 ft)
Peristeria cochlearis Garay 1972 Colombia 0 metres (0 ft)
  Peristeria elata Hook. 1831 Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panamá, Venezuela 100–700 metres (330–2,300 ft)
Peristeria ephippium Rchb.f. 1883 Colombia to Venezuela (Amazonas)
Peristeria esperanzae P.Ortiz 2008 Colombia. 200 metres (660 ft)
Peristeria guttata Knowles & Westc. 1838 Bolivia, Brazil North, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela 400 metres (1,300 ft)
Peristeria leucoxantha Garay 1954 Colombia (Cauca), Ecuador
Peristeria lindenii Rolfe 1891 Ecuador to Peru 800–1,000 metres (2,600–3,300 ft)
Peristeria oscarii-rodrigoi Archila, Szlach. & Kolan. 2015 Guatemala.
  Peristeria pendula Hook. 1836 Brazil (Amazonas, Pará), Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panamá, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela 500–1,500 metres (1,600–4,900 ft)
Peristeria selligera Rchb.f. 1887 Guyana
Peristeria serroniana (Barb.Rodr.) Garay 1954 Brazil (Pará)

References

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  1. ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ 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.
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