Orchid Information - Genus Eria

Eria Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 11 (1825) t. 904.

Synonyms:

• Trichosma Lindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 28 (1842) t. 21. Type species: Trichosma suavis Lindl.
• Eria sect. Trichosma (Lindl.) Lindl., J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Bot. 3 (1859) 52.
• Eria sect. Convolutae J.J.Sm, Fl. Java 6 (1905) 378. Type species: Eria stellata.
• Eria sect. Goniorhabdos Schltr., Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 1 (1911) 649, 651. Type species: not designated.

Sympodial epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial plants. Roots usually thin, hairy. Rhizomes creeping, very short to long. Pseudobulbs consisting of few internodes, ovoid, angular in section, 2-4- leaved at the apex; covered by leaf sheaths. Leaves convolute, plicate, arranged in two rows; sheath articulate with the blade; blade dorso-ventrally flattened, leathery. Inflorescence lateral, erect, from opposite a leaf base, glabrous or with stellate hairs; peduncle subtended by few imbricate scales. Flowers median-size, widely opening. Ovary angular in transverse section, sometimes winged. Median sepal ovate-triangular or narrowly triangular. Lateral sepals narrowly triangular but ventrally broadened at the base, the apices recurved. Petals similar in size and shape to the sepals. Lip 3-lobed or entire; callus absent or adorned with ridges. Column with an incurved column foot; anther fleshy, covering the erect, truncate rostellum, with a 4-chamber pouch at the base, with an obtuse apical median ridge, with blunt apex; pollinia 8 in 2 groups of 4, equal in size, laterally compressed, in lateral view deltoid, with granular caudicles.
(after Cribb & Ng 2005)

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