Aganisia is a small South American genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), subfamily Epidendroideae.
The genus was named after the Greek word ‘agnos’ (gratitude), perhaps referring to the sweet scent of its flowers.
These dwarf, epiphytic climbing orchids occur in mountainous or savanna forests and alongside rivers in Trinidad, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Peru.
Aganisia produce pseudobulbs and small flowers produced from a creeping rhizome. These flowers generally reach 4 cm in width. Their color varies from a rose-tinted violet to a blue-tinted violet. The flower has a short column foot and an elongate stipe.
They are rarely cultivated.
Species
Four species are currently recognized (May 2014):
Aganisia cyanea (Lindl.) Rchb.f. - Blue orchid - Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil Aganisia fimbriata Rchb.f. - Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Guyana, Suriname Aganisia pulchella Lindl. - Trinidad, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil Aganisia rosariana (V.P.Castro & J.B.F.Silva) F.Barros & L.R.S.Guim. - Brazil (Rondônia)
Intergeneric Hybrids
xDownsara. = Aganisia x Batemannia x Otostylis x Zygosepalum
xHamelwellsara = Aganisia x Batemannianax Otostylis x Zygopetalum x Zygosepalum
xMauriceara = Aganisia x Batemanniana x Pabstia x Promenaea x Otostylis x Zygopetalum x Zygosepalum xOtonisia = Aganisia x Otostylis xZygonisia = Aganisia x Zygopetalum
References
External links
Acacallis cyanea - Orchid, Acacallis cyanea is one of the most beautiful of the Zygopetalinae Royal Horticultural Society: Registration of Orchids Missouri Botanical Garden