Malaxis Sw.
capítulo de libro
Date
2020-03-31Author
Chinchilla Alvarado, Isler Fabián
Dressler, Robert L.
Pupulin, Franco
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Show full item recordAbstract
The genus Malaxis was named in 1788 by Olof Swartz. The
name was based on malaxo, Greek for “softening,” apparently
referring to the soft or delicate leaves.
Traditionally Malaxis has been characterized in part by the
cavity basal of the lip, very short columns, erect and thought
to grow “everywhere but New Zealand,” but studies of DNA
suggest that Malaxis in the traditional sense includes unrelated
species from different areas, and suggest that the habit and vegetative features may be more important than the floral details in
determining evolutionary relationships. Still, Swartz based the
genus on Malaxis spicata, of the West Indies and southeastern
U.S., so, even if Malaxis in the traditional sense is diverse, most
or many of the species in the Western Hemisphere may well
remain in Malaxis.
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