40. Basiphyllaea Schlechter, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 77. 1921.
[Greek basis, base, and phyllon, leaf, referring to the single basal leaf]
James D. Ackerman
Herbs, terrestrial, sympodial, glabrous. Roots few, velamentous, fleshy, villous. Stems subterranean tubers, rhizomes, and erect, delicate, aerial shoots. Leaves deciduous, 1–2, basal; blade articulate, conduplicate, margins entire. Inflorescences terminal, few-flowered racemes or sometimes branched, erect, scapose. Flowers resupinate; perianth not fully spreading, distinct and free; sepals lanceolate to linear-lanceolate; petals linear-elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or oblanceolate; lip 3-lobed, middle lobe small, obovate to subquadrangular, apex notched to retuse, lateral lobes clasping column, broad, rounded; disc lamellate; column elongate, arcuate, slender; anther terminal, operculate; pollinia 8, hard, waxy; ovary pedicellate; stigma entire. Fruits capsules, erect, ellipsoid.
Species 6 (1 in the flora): s Florida, West Indies.
SELECTED REFERENCE
McCartney, C. 1992. Stalking the elusive Basiphyllaea corallicola. Part 2. Florida Orchidist 34: 195–211.
