Bletia
Fl. Peruv. Prodr., 119, plate 26. 1794.
Plants herbs, terrestrial, cespitose, sympodial. Roots fleshy, velamentous. Stems short, stout rhizomes and pseudobulbs. Leaves deciduous, 3–5, basal and cauline, petiolate; blade articulate, pleated, thin. Inflorescences lateral, racemes or sparsely branched panicles, erect, scapose, 3–80-flowered; floral bracts distant, tubular. Flowers resupinate; sepals and petals subsimilar, distinct; lip attached to base of column, margins entire to 3-lobed; disc smooth, lamellate or with 5–7 denticulate crests; column elongate, arcuate, sometimes winged distally; anther terminal, incumbent; pollinia 8 in 2 sets of 4, yellow, compressed, hard, waxy or rarely mealy; stigma entire; ovary pedicellate. Fruits capsules, cylindric.
Distribution
s Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.
Discussion
Species 31 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Sepals (12–)15–26 mm; pedicellate ovary 9–18 mm; column foot present. | Bletia purpurea |
| 1 | Sepals 30–40 mm; pedicellate ovary 20–35 mm; column foot absent. | Bletia patula |