Pseudovanilla Garay
Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1986).

INTRODUCTION: Eight or nine species in this genus are distributed from the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Solomons to Fiji. Several species previously included in the genus Galeola are now included here.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: Described by Dr. Leslie Garay in 1986, naming the genus in reference to its close relationship between these orchids and the genus Vanilla from the Greek pseudo (false).

TYPE SPECIES: Ledgeria foliata F. Muell.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUS: Strong climbing or vining saprophytic, Almost leafless (some with only bract-ilke ones towards the base) herbs with an extensive, branching root system. The branching inflorescence can be many-flowered in all shades of yellow to orange. The flowers are conspicuous, opening widely. Sepals and petals similar but petals a little narrower. The labellum is sometimes obscurely three-lobed and fused with the column at the base to form a short spur. The lamina callus of the labellum is densely warty.

NUMBER OF SPECIES IN NEW GUINEA: Pseudovanilla foliata (F. Muell.) Garay is found here as well as at Cape York Peninsula in Northern Queensland, Australia.

HABITAT: Growing species can be found in lowland rain forests, others in montane mist forests, growing on decaying wood climbing high into the trees.

PHOTOS: Click here to view more photos

CONSERVATION STATUS: not threatened