Lepanthes

Lepanthes
Lepanthes ophelma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Pleurothallidinae
Genus: Lepanthes
Sw.
Species

800–1000

Synonyms
  • Brachycladium (Luer) Luer 2005, illegitimate homonym of 1838 name
  • Neooreophilus Archila
  • Oreophilus W.E.Higgins & Archila
  • Penducella Luer & Thoerle

Lepanthes (from Greek "scaled-flower") is a large genus of orchids with about 800–1000 species, distributed in the Antilles and from Mexico through Bolivia (with very few species in Brazil). The genus is abbreviated in horticultural trade as Lths. Almost all the species in the genus are small and live in cloud forests. Babyboot orchid is a common name.