Porroglossum

Taxobox
name = "Porroglossum"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Orchidaceae
subfamilia = Epidendroideae
tribus = Epidendreae
subtribus = Pleurothallidinae
genus = "Porroglossum"
genus_authority = Schltr.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
*"Porroglossum andreettae"
*"Porroglossum dalstroemii"
*"Porroglossum dreisei"
*"Porroglossum echidna"
*"Porroglossum hirtzii"
*"Porroglossum meridionale"
*"Porroglossum mordax"
*"Porroglossum muscosum"
*"Porroglossum olivaceum"
*"Porroglossum portillae"
*"Porroglossum tripollex"
*etc.

"Porroglossum" (from Greek "far off" and "tongue", referring to the position of the lip) is a genus of orchids with 28 species, distributed in the Andes. This genus is abbreviated Prgm in horticultural trade.

The lip is unique in this genus: it is hinged and has a mechanism that snaps shut when stimulated by a pollinator, thus trapping the insect to ensure that the pollinia will be removed and later transferred to the receptive surface. The lip opens after 30 minutes or so to release the insect, but also closes at night and reopens at dawn.

"Lothiania" Kraenzl. and "Lothoniana" Kraenzl. are synonym of "Porroglossum".