Scaphyglottis

{{Short description|Genus of orchids}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Scaphyglottis bidentata.jpg | image_caption = ''[[Scaphyglottis bidentata]]'' | display_parents = 3 | taxon = Scaphyglottis | authority = [[Poepp.]] & [[Endl.]] | synonyms_ref = <ref name="WCSP"/> | synonyms = *''Hexisea'' Lindl. *''Hexadesmia'' Brongn. *''Hexopia'' Bateman ex Lindl. *''Euothonaea'' [[Rchb.f.]] *''Tetragamestus'' Rchb.f. *''Reichenbachanthus'' Barb.Rodr. *''Fractiunguis'' Schltr. *''Leaoa'' Schltr. & Porto *''Costaricaea'' Schltr. *''Pachystele'' Schltr. illegitimate name *''Ramonia'' Schltr. *''Platyglottis'' L.O.Williams *''Pseudohexadesmia'' Brieger in F.R.R.Schlechter, invalid name *''Sessilibulbum'' Brieger in F.R.R.Schlechter, invalid name *''Pachystelis'' Rauschert | range_map = Scaphyglottis.png | range_map_caption = ''Scaphyglottis'' distribution }} '''''Scaphyglottis''''' (abbreviated '''''Scgl.'''''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/plant-registration-forms/orchid-name-abbreviations-list.pdf|title=Alphabetical list of standard abbreviations of all generic names occurring in current use in orchid hybrid registration as at 31st December 2007|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society}}</ref>) is a [[genus]] of [[orchid]]s native to Mexico, [[Central America]], northern South America and parts of the [[Caribbean]].<ref name="WCSP">[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=186697 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]</ref> The current concept of this genus is the result of combining several genera which have been described at various times. The concept is characterized by the growth habit: not only are new [[pseudobulb]]s added at the base of the old ones (as is typical of [[sympodial]] orchids), but new pseudobulbs also grow at the apices of the old ones. Many species are quite similar and difficult to distinguish, but some are clearly distinct. A few have showy colors. The genus comprises nearly 70 species.

==Description== The plants are [[epiphyte|epiphytic]], or sometimes [[lithophytic]]. They show considerable variation in size, ranging from a few cm to nearly 1 m tall. They all have narrow, elongated pseudobulbs covered at the base by numerous evanescent sheaths. Each pseudobulb bears up to three long, narrow apical leaves. The pseudobulbs are ''superposed'' i. e. tend to grow in stacked chains, one arising from the apex of another.{{fact|date=September 2025}}

The [[inflorescence]] grows from the apex of the pseudobulb, and differs from most sympodial orchids in that one pseudobulb will sometimes produce inflorescences for several years. This, combined with the habit of new pseudobulbs growing from the apices of old ones, creates the impression that there are inflorescences growing from the middle of the stem. The inflorescence can be solitary, successive, [[raceme|racemose]] or [[panicle|paniculate]].{{fact|date=September 2025}}

The flowers are small, and nearly always white, cream, or a pale shade of green or lavender, with the exception of two species of ''Hexisea'', which are mostly brilliant red. The petals and sepals have nearly the same length, but the petals are usually wider, and the lip is usually the largest perianth segment. The anther is terminal, and contains four to six [[pollinia]].{{fact|date=September 2025}}

Most ''Scaphyglottis'' are pollinated by insects; nearly all species produce nectar which accumulates in the [[nectary]] formed by the base of the lip and the bottom of the column. The two species of ''Hexisea'' are possibly also pollinated by hummingbirds, which are especially known to visit red flowers.{{fact|date=September 2025}}

==Taxonomic history== The genus was published by [[Eduard Friedrich Poeppig]] and [[Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher]] in 1835.<ref>Eduardus Poeppig and Stephan Endlich ''Nova genera ac species plantarum, quas in regno Chilensi Peruviano et in terra Amazonica, ''(Leipzig) F. Hofmeister (Ed.), 1835–45. '''1''':58.</ref> In 1960, Robert Louis Dressler designated ''Fernandezia graminifolia'' Ruiz & Pavon, now known as ''Scaphyglottis graminifolia'', to be the type species. The generic epithet comes from the Greek skaphe, concave or hollow, and glotta, tongue, in reference to the shape of the floral [[Labellum (botany)|labellum]].

This definition of ''Scaphyglottis'' was unclear for a long time.<ref>Bryan Roger Adams (1993) A taxonomic revision of the genus ''Scaphyglottis'' (Orchidaceae - Epidendroideae). Ph.D. dissertation, Southern University at Carbondale, IL.</ref> There is a large group of species clearly belonging to the genus, such as the now defunct three small genera ''Tetragamestus'', ''Leaoa'', and ''Hexadesmia'', which were brought into synonymy decades ago. In 1993, a review of ''Scaphpyglottis'' was published which did not include a complete synonymy, but which was nevertheless useful in clarifying many of the species in the genus.

Many of the species belonging to ''Scaphyglottis'' before the unification are also confusing and variable, forming various complexes of reproductively isolated groups that seem morphologically identical.

===Synonymy=== In 2004, several other genera were brought into synonymy with ''Scaphyglottis'' as the concept is used today:

'''''Hexadesmia''''' This genus containing 27 species was described by [[Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart]] in 1843.<ref>Adolphe-Théodore Brogniart (1842)''Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique'' '''2''', 17:45.</ref> It consisted of several different species separated from ''Scaphyglottis'' because the flowers had six pollinia instead of four. Because all of these species are in the basal clade of ''Scaphyglottis'', six pollinia seems likely to be the ancestral condition of ''Scaphyglottis''.<ref>Robert Dressler (2001) "Scaphyglottis" in AM Pridgeon, PG Cribb, MW Chase, and FN Rasmussen, Eds.: ''Genera Orchidacearum'' '''4''' Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. {{ISBN|0-19-850712-7}}</ref> Several other authors, including [[Rudolf Schlechter|Schlechter]] and [[Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach|Reichenbach]], placed additional species in ''Hexadesmia''.

'''''Leaoa''''': In 1922, [[Rudolf Schlechter]] and [[Paulo de Campos Porto]]<ref>Rudolf Schlechter and Paulo de Campos Porto (1922) ''Archivos do Jardim Bôtanico do Rio de Janeiro'' '''3''':292.</ref> erected this small genus for a species that had previously been called ''Hexadesmia monophylla'', which had a very long inflorescence, rather than the short inflorescence typical of ''Hexadesmia'', as well as the typical six pollinia. More species were added to the genus by [[Leslie Andrew Garay]] in 1955<ref>Leslie Andrew Garay (1955)''Archivos do Jardim Bôtanico do Rio de Janeiro '''13''':45.''</ref> and by [[Friedrich Gustav Brieger]] in 1976,<ref>Friedrich Gustav Brieger (1976) ''Orchideen'' '''8''' (2932):488.</ref> bringing the total to four.

'''''Tetragamestus''''': Heinrich gustav Reichenbach described ''Tetragamestus modestus'' in 1854.<ref>Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach (1854) ''Bonplandia'' '''2''':21</ref> Three additional species have been assigned to this genus, the last by Schlechter in 1818.<ref>Rudolf Schlechter ''Beihefte zum Botanischen Centralblatt'' '''36'''(2):400</ref> The most widely known species is ''T. modestus'', a name which can be confused with ''reichenbachanthus modestus'', a synonym of ''S. brasiliensis''. The name ''Tetragamestus'' is widely used by orchid enthusiasts, many of whom reject the inclusion of this genus in ''Scaphyglottis''.<ref>Arquivos da Coordenadoria das Associacoes de Orquidofilos do Brasil (2008).</ref>

'''''Reichenbachanthus''''': João Barbosa Rodrigues published ''Reichenbachanthus modestus'' in 1882. Four species of pendant epiphytes which occur from Central America to southeastern Brazil in tropical rain forests have been included in this genus, the last in 1997 by Dressler.<ref>Robert Louis Dressler ''Novon'' '''7'''(2):124 (1997)</ref> The terete (= narrowly cylindrical) pseudobulb is difficult to distinguish from the single terete leaf. The base of the full or slightly trilobate lip forms a nectary together with the column, the column foot, and the base of the lateral [[sepals]]. The [[column (botany)|column]] is long and thick with an apical [[anther]] containing four [[pollinia]]. The pale yellow or green flowers feature lanceolate petals, smaller than the sepals.

* ''Reichenbachanthus modestus'', originally published as ''Fractiunguis brasiliensis'' and also published in 1877 as ''Hexisea reflexa'' (Reichenbach) is now ''[[Scaphyglottis reflexa]]''. * ''Reichenbachanthus reflexus'', also published as ''Fractiunguis reflexus'' and ''Hexisea reflexa'' is now ''[[Scaphyglottis emarginata]]''. *''Reichenbachanthus cuniculatus'', originally published as ''Fractiunguis cuniculatus'' in 1923, also published as ''Hexisea cuniculata'' in 1925, is now ''[[Scaphyglottis cuniculata]]'' (Schltr.) Dressler (2002). *''Reichenbachanthus subulatus'' (Schltr.) Dressler (1997) was originally published as ''[[Scaphyglottis subulata]]'' Schltr. (1910).<ref>Schlechter, Repert. ''Spec. Nov. Regni Veg.'' '''8''':454 (1910).</ref> It has also been published as ''Reichenbachanthus lankesteri'' (Ames) DE Mora-Retana & JB García-Castro (1992)<ref>DE Mora-Retana & JB García-Castro, ''Brenesia'' '''37''':81–82. (1992)</ref> and ''Hexisea lankesteri'' Ames (1925).<ref>O Ames, ''Schedulae Orchidianae'' '''9''':47–48(1925)</ref>

'''''Fractiunguis''''' was published by Schlechter in 1922, and has been considered a synonym of ''Reichenbachanthus'' almost from that time.<ref>Rudolf Schlechter: ''Anexos das Memórias do Instituto de Butantan : Secção de Botânica'' '''1'''(4):55. (1922)</ref> It consisted of three species: *''Fractiunguis reflexus'' [[Rudolf Schlechter|Schlechter]] (1922) *''Fractiunguis cuniculatus'' [[Rudolf Schlechter|Schlechter]] (1923) *''Fractiunguis cuniculatus'' var gracilis [[Rudolf Schlechter|Schlechter]] (1923)

'''''Hexisea''''': In 1834, [[John Lindley]] published ''Hexisea bidentata''.<ref>Lindley, ''Hooker's Journal of Botany'' '''1''':8 (1834)</ref> The generic epithet refers to the six perianth segments being nearly equal in size and shape. Fourteen species have been placed in this genus before it was reduced to synonymy under ''Scaphyglottis'', despite having priority to ''Scaphyglottis''.

The plants are [[epiphytic]] or rupicolous (rock dwelling) and caespitose, sometimes hanging down from branches of trees. They grow naturally in tropical and equatorial, humid, low-altitude forests from southern [[Mexico]] to northern and northwestern [[South America]].

The original two species (''H. bidentata'' and ''H. imbricata'', originally published as ''H. bidentata'' var. ''imbricata'') are distinguished from ''Scaphyglottis'' by small, almost entirely red flowers, with nearly equal perianth segments. It is the only group pollinated by hummingbirds.<ref>Robert Dressler (2001) "Scaphyglottis" in AM Pridgeon, PJ Cribb, MW Chase, and FN Rasmussen eds. ''Genera Orchidacearum'' '''4''' Oxford University Press</ref>

The vegetative morphology is similar to ''Scaphyglottis''. The [[pseudobulb]]s are typically cylindrical or fusiform, bear deciduous linear-[[lanceolate]] leaves, and grow one from at the apex of another to form articulated chains. The racemose inflorescence is apical or from the nodes of the joints between pseudobulbs, with few flowers open simultaneously (generally only two or three) being produced over several years.

The red or orange flowers have lanceolate sepals and petals. The labellum is simple and folded down, the same color as the other perianth segments. In some species (e.g., H. bidentata) there is a bright yellow callus in the form of two teeth near the base of the labellum. The pollinarium contains four pollinia.

According to the rules of the [[International Code of Botanical Nomenclature]], ''Hexisea'' is the name that should be used for all ''Scaphyglottis'', because the name ''Hexisea'' (for one of these species) was published before ''Scaphyglottis''. However, Dressler suggested that the name Scaphyglottis be retained to avoid changing the names of a large number of well known species.,<ref>Robert Louis Dressler (1994) "Proposal to conserve ''Scaphyglottis'' against ''Hexisea'' (Orchidaceae)". ''Taxon'' '''43''':665–666.</ref> and that the formally correct name ''Hexisea'' be used only when referring to those species which had been traditionally known as ''Hexisea''. On the strength of this recommendation, Kew has made ''Scaphyglottis'' the accepted name, and reduced the correct name ''Hexisea'' to synonymy.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=262807&repSynonym_id=-9998&name_id=99099&status=false | title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew }}</ref>

'''''Euothonaea''''' was published by [[Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach|Reichenbach]] in 1852, but was invalid for technical reasons<ref>Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, ''Botanische zeitung'' '''10''':772, Berlin (1852).</ref> This genus has always been relegated to synonomy under ''Hexisea''. *''Euothonea oppositifolia'' (A.Rich. & Galeotti) Rchb.f. (1852) was previously published as ''Epidendrum oppositifoliium'' A.Rich. & Galeotti (1854). In 1850, it was published as ''Diothonea oppositifolia'' (A.Rich. & Galeotti) Rchb.f. and in 1862 as ''Hexisea oppositifolia'' (A.Rich. & Galeotti) Rchb.f. In 2002, Dressler reduced it to synonymy under ''Hexisea imbricata'' by publishing the name ''Scaphpyglottis imbricata''.

'''''Costaricaea''''' was erected by [[Rudolf Schlechter|Schlechter]] in 1923 for ''Costaricaea amparoana'',<ref>Rudolf Schlecther, ''Repertorium Specierum Novarum regni Vegetabilis, Beihefte'' '''19''':30</ref> which was moved to ''Hexisea amparoana'' in 1934 <ref>Ames, FT Hubb. & C.Schweinf., ''Botanical Museum Leaflet'' '''3''':40. (1934)</ref> and then to ''Scaphyglottis amparoana'' in 1964.<ref>Dressler, ''Taxon'' '''13''':246. (1964)</ref>

'''''Platyglottis''''' was proposed in 1942 by [[Louis Otto Williams]] for the new [[Panama]]nian species ''Platyglottis coriacea''.<ref>Louis Otto Williams, Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden '''29'''(4):345. (1942)</ref> In 2004, Dressler transferred it to ''Scaphyglottis coriaceae''.<ref>Dressler, ''Brittonia'' '''56'''(1):64. (2004)</ref> Although the pseudobulbs of this species grow from the apices of previous pseudobulbs like the rest of the genus ''Scaphyglottis'', this species differs by having wide. flat, coriaceous, alternate leaves, and an apical racemose inflorescence with up to four pale flowers open at once, featuring long ovaries and large bracts at the base of the [[Peduncle (botany)|peduncle]]. Both the vegetative and floral morphology make this species easy to distinguish for the other species of ''Scaphyglottis''.

'''''Helleriella.''''' In 1974 Garay and Sweet transferred ''Scaphyglottis punctulata '' (Reichenbach f.) C. Schweinfurth,<ref>Botanical Museum Leaflets of Harvard University 17:47 (1955)</ref> (''Ponera punctulata'' Reichenbach f., ''Epidendrum dussii'' Cogniaux) to the Andean genus ''Helleriella'' without any explanation. A comparison of ''S. punctulata'' with the two species of ''Helleriella'' shows that it fits poorly into that genus. Except for a somewhat unusual habit it is a typical Scaphyglottis. This is also confirmed by molecular data.

===Subtaxa=== A study of inner transcribed spacer data has suggested that the [[nom. illeg.|illegitimate name]] ''Pachystele'' Schltr. (1923) corresponds to a well-supported clade distinct from the remainder of the modern concept of ''Scaphyglottis'', as does the species ''S. livida''.<ref>Dressler, Whitten, & Williams: "Phylogenetic relationships of ''Scaphyglottis'' and related genera ([[Laeliinae]]: [[Orchidaceae]]) based on nrDNA ITS sequence data" ''Brittonia'', '''56''':58—66 (2004). The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY.</ref> The authors of the study noted that this "''Pachystele'' clade" corresponds roughly to ''Hexisea sensu lato'': * ''S. amparoana'' * ''S. arctata'' * ''S. bidentata'' * ''S. chlorantha'' * ''S. confusa'' * ''S. cuniculata'' * ''S. corallorrhiza'' * ''S. densa'' * ''S. fasciculata'' * ''S. gentryi'' * ''S. gigantea'' * ''S. imbricata'' * ''S. jimenezii'' * ''S. reflexa'' * ''S. sigmoidea''

The paper did not publish any names for these three suggested sub-taxa of ''Scaphyglottis'', but did publish three new combinations.

===Species=== {{Div col}} * ''[[Scaphyglottis acostaei|S. acostaei]]'' ([[Schltr.]]) [[C.Schweinf.]] (1941) * ''[[Scaphyglottis amparoana|S. amparoana]]'' (Schltr.) Dressler (1964) * ''[[Scaphyglottis antillana|S. antillana]]'' is not listed by Kew<ref>search for Scaphyglottis on http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/</ref> * ''[[Scaphyglottis arctata|S. arctata]]'' (Dressler) B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis atwoodii|S. atwoodii]]'' Dressler (1997) * ''[[Scaphyglottis aurea|S. aurea]]'' ([[Rchb.f.]]) Foldats (1959) * ''[[Scaphyglottis behrii|S. behrii]]'' (Rchb.f.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Hemsl. (1884) * ''[[Scaphyglottis bicallosa|S. bicallosa]]'' Dressler (2000) * ''[[Scaphyglottis bicornis|S. bicornis]]'' ([[Lindl.]]) Garay (1967) * ''[[Scaphyglottis bidentata|S. bidentata]]'' (Lindl.) Dressler (2002) * ''[[Scaphyglottis bifida|S. bifida]]'' (Rchb.f.) C.Schweinf. (1941) * ''[[Scaphyglottis bilineata|S. bilineata]]'' (Rchb.f.) Schltr. (1918) * ''[[Scaphyglottis boliviensis|S. boliviensis]]'' (Rolfe) B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis brasiliensis|S. brasiliensis]]'' (Schltr.) Dressler (2004) * ''[[Scaphyglottis caricalensis|S. caricalensis]]'' ([[Kraenzl.]]) Correll (1941) * ''[[Scaphyglottis cernua|S. cernua]]'' Dressler (2004) * ''[[Scaphyglottis chlorantha|S. chlorantha]]'' B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis clavata|S. clavata]]'' Dressler (2004) * ''[[Scaphyglottis condorana|S. condorana]]'' Dodson (1998) * ''[[Scaphyglottis conferta|S. conferta]]'' (Ruiz & Pav.) Poepp. & Endl. (1831) * ''[[Scaphyglottis confusa|S. confusa]]'' (Schltr.) Ames & Correll (1942) * ''[[Scaphyglottis corallorrhiza|S. corallorrhiza]]'' ([[Oakes Ames (botanist)|Ames]]) Ames, F.T.Hubb. & C.Schweinf. (1934) * ''[[Scaphyglottis coriacea|S. coriacea]]'' (L.O.Williams) Dressler (2004) * ''[[Scaphyglottis crurigera|S. crurigera]]'' (Bateman ex Lindl.) Ames & Correll (1942) * ''[[Scaphyglottis cuniculata|S. cuniculata]]'' (Schltr.) Dressler (2002) * ''[[Scaphyglottis densa|S. densa]]'' (Schltr.) B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis dunstervillei|S. dunstervillei]]'' (Garay) Foldats (1968) * ''[[Scaphyglottis emarginata|S. emarginata]]'' (Garay) Dressler (2004) * ''[[Scaphyglottis fasciculata|S. fasciculata]]'' Hook. (1841) * ''[[Scaphyglottis fusiformis|S. fusiformis]]'' (Griseb.) R.E.Schult. (1957) * ''[[Scaphyglottis geminata|S. geminata]]'' Dressler & Mora-Ret. (1993) * ''[[Scaphyglottis gentryi|S. gentryi]]'' Dodson & Monsalve (1998) * ''[[Scaphyglottis gigantea|S. gigantea]]'' Dressler (1979) * ''[[Scaphyglottis grandiflora|S. grandiflora]]'' Ames & C.Schweinf. (1931) * ''[[Scaphyglottis hirtzii|S. hirtzii]]'' Dodson (1998) * ''[[Scaphyglottis hondurensis|S. hondurensis]]'' (Ames) L.O.Williams (1950) * ''[[Scaphyglottis imbricata|S. imbricata]]'' (Lindl.) Dressler (2002) * ''[[Scaphyglottis jimenezii|S. jimenezii]]'' Schltr. (1918) * ''[[Scaphyglottis laevilabium|S. laevilabium]]'' Ames (1921) * ''[[Scaphyglottis leucantha|S. leucantha]]'' Rchb.f. (1850) * ''[[Scaphyglottis limonensis|S. limonensis]]'' B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis lindeniana|S. lindeniana]]'' (A.Rich. & [[Henri Guillaume Galeotti|Galeotti]]) L.O.Williams (1941) * ''[[Scaphyglottis livida|S. livida]]'' (Lindl.) Schltr. (1918) * ''[[Scaphyglottis longicaulis|S. longicaulis]]'' [[S.Watson]] (1888) * ''[[Scaphyglottis mesocopis|S. mesocopis]]'' ({{ill|Augustus R. Endrés|es|lt=Endres}} & Rchb.f.) [[Benth.]] & [[Hook.f.]] ex [[Hemsl.]] (1884) * ''[[Scaphyglottis michelangeliorum|S. michelangeliorum]]'' Carnevali & Steyerm. (1984) * ''[[Scaphyglottis micrantha|S. micrantha]]'' (Lindl.) Ames & Correll (1942) * ''[[Scaphyglottis minutiflora|S. minutiflora]]'' Ames & Correll (1942) * ''[[Scaphyglottis modesta|S. modesta]]'' ([[Rchb.f.]]) Schltr. (1926) * ''[[Scaphyglottis monspirrae|S. monspirrae]]'' Dressler (2000) * ''[[Scaphyglottis pachybulbon|S. pachybulbon]]'' (Schltr.) Dressler (2000) * ''[[Scaphyglottis panamensis|S. panamensis]]'' B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis prolifera|S. prolifera]]'' ([[R.Br.]]) [[Cogn.]] (1898) * ''[[Scaphyglottis propinqua|S. propinqua]]'' C.Schweinf. (1955) * ''[[Scaphyglottis pulchella|S. pulchella]]'' (Schltr.) L.O.Williams (1941) * ''[[Scaphyglottis punctulata|S. punctulata]]'' (Rchb.f.) C.Schweinf. (1955) * ''[[Scaphyglottis reflexa|S. reflexa]]'' Lindl. (1939) * ''[[Scaphyglottis robusta|S. robusta]]'' B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis sessiliflora|S. sessiliflora]]'' B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis sickii|S. sickii]]'' Pabst (1956) * ''[[Scaphyglottis sigmoidea|S. sigmoidea]]'' (Ames & C.Schweinf.) B.R.Adams (1988) * ''[[Scaphyglottis spathulata|S. spathulata]]'' C.Schweinf. (1941) * ''[[Scaphyglottis stellata|S. stellata]]'' [[Lodd.]] ex Lindl. (1839) * ''[[Scaphyglottis sublibera|S. sublibera]]'' (C.Schweinf.) Dressler (1964) * ''[[Scaphyglottis subulata|S. subulata]]'' Schltr. (1910) * ''[[Scaphyglottis summersii|S. summersii]]'' L.O.Williams (1940) * ''[[Scaphyglottis tenella|S. tenella]]'' L.O.Williams (1941) * ''[[Scaphyglottis tenuis|S. tenuis]]'' L.O.Williams (1941) * ''[[Scaphyglottis triloba|S. triloba]]'' B.R.Adams (1988) {{Div col end}}

==Distribution== ''Scaphyglottis'' species grow over a large area, stretching from southern [[Mexico]] and the [[Caribbean]] Islands to southern [[Bolivia]] and much of [[Brazil]], ranging from hot, humid [[tropical rain forests]] near sea level through dry forests of the uplands to the [[cloud forest]]s high in the [[Andes]]. The center of diversity is in southern [[Central America]]. They usually grow high in trees, or in other highly illuminated locations.

==Cultivated hybrids== A few [[grex (horticulture)|greges]] produced by hybridizing ''Scaphyglottis'' species have been registered:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plant_groups/orchids.asp |title=Royal Horticultural Society - Plants: Orchids |website=www.rhs.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041027010822/http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plant_groups/orchids.asp |archive-date=2004-10-27}} </ref> * ''Scaphingoa'' Little Gem was registered in 1964 by WWG Moir with the nothogeneric epithet ''Domindesmia''. It was produced by pollinating a ''[[Domingoa]] haematochila'' with pollen from a ''S. pulchella'' (then known as ''Hexadesmia pulchella''). * ''Scaphyglottis'' (''Seahexa'') Gold was registered in 1983 by WWG Moir with the nothogeneric epithet ''Seahexa''. It was produced by pollinating a ''S. pulchella'' (then known as ''Hexadesmia pulchella'') with a ''S. aurea'' (then known as ''Hexisea aurea''). * ''Epiglottis'' Rumrill Elf was registered in 1985 by J Rumrill. It was produced by pollinating a ''S. crurigera'' with an ''[[Epidendrum radicans]]''.

==Medical use== In response to reports of the use of ''Scaphyglottis'' species in popular medicine for pain relief, a study was performed which showed that oral administration of certain substances (5alpha-lanosta-24,24-dimethyl-9(11),25-dien-3beta-ol, [[cyclobalanone]], [[gigantol]], and 3,4'-dihydroxy-3',4,5-trimethoxybibenzyl) found in ''[[Scaphyglottis livida|S. livida]]'' produced anti-inflammatory and [[antinociceptive]] effects in [[Laboratory rat|rats]] and [[House mouse#Laboratory mice|mice]], apparently (at least partially) by activation of [[opioid receptors]].<ref>Déciga-Campos M, Palacios-Espinosa JF, Reyes-Ramírez A, Mata R. (2007). "Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of compounds isolated from ''Scaphyglottis livida'' and ''Maxillaria densa''." ''Journal of Ethnopharmacology'' (J Ethnopharmacol), '''114'''(2):161–168. Published in Ireland.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} * R Govaerts, A Campacci (Brazil, 2005), D Holland Baptista (Brazil, 2005), P Cribb (K, 2003), Alex George (K, 2003), K. Kreuz (2004, Europe), J Wood (K, 2003, Europe) (Novembro 2008). World Checklist of Orchidaceae. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

==External links== *{{Commons-inline|Scaphyglottis|''Scaphyglottis''}} *{{Wikispecies-inline|Scaphyglottis|''Scaphyglottis''}}

[[Category:Scaphyglottis| ]] [[Category:Laeliinae genera]] [[Category:Epiphytic orchids]] [[Category:Taxa named by Eduard Friedrich Poeppig]]