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Type: Article
Published: 2021-03-17
Page range: 47–56
Abstract views: 48
PDF downloaded: 4

Expansion of the orchid genus Eulophia (Eulophiinae; Epidendroideae) to include Acrolophia, Cymbidiella, Eulophiella, Geodorum, Oeceoclades and Paralophia

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong S.A.R., P.R. China
African orchids Orchidaceae Orthochilus vegetative development Monocots

Abstract

Eulophia (Eulophiinae; Epidendroideae) has been found in molecular phylogenetic studies to be non-monophyletic. Here, we propose to combine it with Acrolophia, Cymbidiella, Eulophiella, Geodorum, Oeceoclades and Paralophia and discuss the characters that have been used previously to discriminate among these genera, demonstrating that none of them is without exceptions. Given the incongruence found in the molecular phylogenetic studies between plastid and nuclear results, a broader circumscription of Eulophia is more likely to be stable. In total, 35 new combinations/names are required for the expansion of Eulophia to include these other genera.