e-Key v3 - Oberonia
SANBI Flora Keys Logo
Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Orchidaceae - Epidendroideae - Malaxideae - Oberonia Lindl.

Description :

  • Epiphytic herbs without pseudobulbs
  • Leaves equitant, ± succulent, distichous
  • Inflorescences terminal, racemose or verticillate, densely many-flowered; flowers nonresupinate, small, yellow, brown, green or orange
  • Sepals free, subequal, spreading or deflexed
  • Petals mostly smaller
  • Lip sessile, entire, or 2-4-lobed
  • Gynostemium very short; anther terminal, operculate, incumbent; pollinia 4
  • Capsule round
  • x = 15 (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Oberonia Lindl.
    • Lindley: 15 (1830) name conserved
    • Stewart et al.: 215 (1982)
    • Linder & Kurzweil: 362 (1999)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 100, mainly Asian tropics but extending into Australasia and Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Oberonia disticha (Lam.) Schltr. in South Africa (Mpumalanga)

References:

  • LINDER, H.P. & KURZWEIL, H. 1999. Orchids of southern Africa . A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam
  • LINDLEY, J. 1830-1840. The genera and species of Orchidaceous plants . Ridgways, London
  • STEWART, J., LINDER, H.P., SCHELPE, E.A. & HALL, A.V. 1982. Wild orchids of southern Africa . Macmillan, Johannesburg