35. Tropidia Lindley, Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 19: text for plate 1618. 1833.
[Greek tropideion, keel, referring to the boat-shaped floral lip of many species]
James D. Ackerman
Tomotris Rafinesque
Herbs, terrestrial, cespitose, erect. Roots branched. Rhizomes short, rigid. Stems erect, branched or simple, reedlike, slender, hard. Leaves few, cauline; sheaths not articulate; blade convolute, plicate, thin. Inflorescences terminal or occasionally from axils of distal leaves, few- to many-flowered panicles [racemes, rarely glomerate], pedunculate [sessile]. Flowers resupinate, small; sepals subequal; lateral sepals distinct [connate at base], forming small mentum; petals similar to sepals, slightly falcate, shorter than sepals; lip sessile, base saccate; column short, fleshy, with short foot; anther abaxial, erect, subequal to rostellum, more than 1/2 length of column; pollinia 2, sectile; stigma entire; viscidium terminal. Fruits capsules, oblong, cylindric.
Species 20 (1 in the flora): tropical and subtropical regions, North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, w Pacific.
SELECTED REFERENCE
Rasmussen, F. N. 1977. The genus Corymborkis Thou. (Orchidaceae): A taxonomic revision. Bot. Tidsskr. 71: 161–192.
