Goodyera

Taxobox
name = "Goodyera"

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = The flowers of "Goodyera repens", sometimes called "creeping lady's tresses" or "dwarf rattlesnake plantain"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Orchidaceae
genus = "Goodyera"
genus_authority = R. Br., 1813
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
range_

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"Goodyera" are a wide-ranging genus of orchid, one of approximately 800 described Orchidaceae genera within that large and diverse family. The genus is named after botanist John Goodyer.

There are about 25 species of "Goodyera" worldwide. Creeping rhizomes and rosettes of evergreen leaves characterize the genus. "Goodyera" is closely related to the genus "Spiranthes". [http://www.newfs.org/conserve/pdf/Goodyeraoblongifolia.pdf] St. Hilaire, Lisa R. 2002. Goodyera oblongifolia Raf. (Giant Rattlesnake-plantain)Conservation and Research Plan for New England. New England Wild Flower Society,Framingham, Massachusetts, USA.]

"Goodyera" flowers are characterized by a saccate nectaryof the lip with a beak-shaped apex. Sepals and petals are connivant over the column. Pollinia in "Goodyera" are granular, in contrast to Cranichideae, another member of this tribe.

Orchids of this genus grow in environments ranging from alpine valleys in Scandinavia to the "laurisilva" of Macaronesia to North American coniferous forests.

"Lady's tresses" is a common name given to some of these species. The four species endemic to North America are called "rattlesnake plantain".

Representative species include:

*"Goodyera pubescens"
*"Goodyera oblongifolia"
*"Goodyera repens"
*"Goodyera tesselata"
*"Goodyera schlectendaliana"

Many "Goodyera" species are threatened in at least part of their range. In areas where more than one species may be found, hybridization is common.

References