Ada_(orchid)

Ada
Ada aurantiaca, Illustration.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Higher Epidendroideae Tribe: Cymbidieae Subtribe: Oncidiinae Alliance: Oncidium Genus: Ada Lindl. (1853)
Type species
Ada aurantiaca Lindl.
Species
Ada allenii - Allen’s Ada Ada andreettae Ada aurantiaca - Red-orange Ada Ada bennettiorum - Bennett’s Ada Ada brachypus Ada chlorops Ada elegantula - Elegant Ada Ada escobariana Ada farinifera Ada glumacea - Ada with Spelts Ada keiliana - Dr. Keil\'s Ada Ada mendozae Ada ocanensis - Ocana Ada Ada peruviana Ada pozoi - Pozo’s Ada Ada rolandoi

Ada, abbreviated as Ada in horticultural trade, is a genus of 16 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Cymbidieae, subtribe Oncidiinae, alliance Oncidium. The type species is Ada aurantiaca.

These are epiphyticorchids, though a few are lithophytic. They are native to Nicaragua down to northern South America, down the Andes to Bolivia. They are warm to cool-growing plants to be found in wet, montane forests at higher elevations, between 650 and 2700 m, but most between 1800 to 2200 m.

The lanceolate leaves are distichous (growing in two ranks) with a length of 20 cm, growing on pseudobulbs with a maximum length of 10 cm. The foliaceous leaf sheaths are well-developed.

The pendent and spectacularly colorful inflorescences do not grow above the leaves. They can produce up to 15 fragrant flowers, blooming from January till April. The color can vary from white to greenish and orange. The perianth is narrow and pointed, with almost similar sepals and petals.. The floral bracts are large and inflated.

The lip is reflexed. It bears a basal callus made up of two plates. It often ends in two tooth-like mounds.

Ada uses a "pseudoparasitism" method of attracting parasite pollinators, by mimicking their host.

They are not easy to cultivate, because of their high demands.

References

Williams, N. H. 1972. A reconsideration of Ada and the glumaceous brassias. Brittonia 24: 93–110.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Ada

• Ada aurantiaca Orchid

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