Brassia R.Br.

After William Brass, 18th to 19th century botanical illustrator who collected plants in Guinea and S Africa.

Epiphytic, epilithic or terrestrial herbs, sympodial, with stout, creeping or ascending rhizomes. Stems thickened into ovoid to cylindrical pseudobulbs, bases sheathed, well spaced. Leaves apical, 1?3, leathery, strap-like. Inflorescences basal racemes, rarely panicles, erect or arching. Flowers resupinate, few-many, small to large, yellow to greenish with white or reddish markings. Sepals similar, free, slender. Petals similar to sepals but smaller, free. Labellum entire or obscurely 3-lobed, often 2-ridged at base. Column short, erect. Pollinia 2, waxy.

About 25 species from tropical N, C and S America.

Often large spidery mottled flowers.

Source: Jeanes, J. (2005). Orchidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Asparagales
family       Orchidaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Brassia aurantiaca (Lindl.) M.W.Chase
species         Brassia keiliana Lindl. & Paxton
species         Brassia verrucosa Lindl.