57. Govenia Lindley, Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 153. 1832.
[For J. R. Gowen, English collector in Assam]
Edward W. Greenwood†
Herbs, terrestrial. Roots spreading, slender, fleshy. Stems reduced to short, nearly ovoid pseudobulbs. Leaves petiolate, articulate, from multiple, concentric, basal sheaths; blade pleated. Inflorescences lateral from within sheaths, racemes, erect, loose. Flowers resupinate; columns fleshy, arcuate 90o, prominently winged, foot prominent [absent]; anthers terminal; pollinaria with 2 pairs of pollinia, stipe, and viscidium.
Species 30 or more (1 in the flora): tropical and subtropical regions, North America, Central America, South America.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Brown, P. M. 2000d. Govenia floridana (Orchidaceae), a new species endemic to southern Florida, U.S.A. N. Amer. Native Orchid J. 6: 231–238. Correll, D. S. 1947. Revision of the genus Govenia. Lloydia 10: 218–278. Fawcett, W. and A. B. Rendle. 1910–1936. Flora of Jamaica…. 5 vols. London. Vol. 1, p. 113. Greenwood, E. W. 1982b. Govenia in Mexico, an introductory note. Orquidea (Mexico City) 8: 114–120. Greenwood, E. W. 1991. The Florida Govenia. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 69: 867–869.
