Peristeria (orchid)

"Dove orchid" redirects here. This may also refer to the Pigeon Orchid (Dendrobium crumenatum).

Dove orchids
Peristeria elata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Maxillarieae
Subtribe:	Coeliopsidinae
Genus:	Peristeria Hook.
Type species
Peristeria elata Hook.
Species
Peristeria cerina Peristeria cochlearis Peristeria elata Peristeria ephippium Peristeria esperanzae Peristeria guttata Peristeria leucoxantha Peristeria lindenii Peristeria pendula Peristeria rossiana Peristeria selligera Peristeria serroniana Peristeria violacea
Synonyms
Eckartia Rchb. f.

Peristeria is a genus of plants belonging to the family Orchidaceae 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.

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.

References

• Missouri Botanical Garden w³ TROPICOS
• Peristeria in World Checklist of Orchidaceae. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

External links

Media related to Peristeria at Wikimedia Commons

• Royal Horticultural Society: Registration of Orchids