Aganisia is a small South American genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), subfamily Epidendroideae.Lindley, John. 1839. Edwards's Botanical Register 25: Misc. 46William Louis Stern, Walter S; Judd and Barbara S. Carlsward : Systematic and comparative anatomy of Maxillarieae (Orchidaceae), sans Oncidiinae - Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 144 Issue 3 Page 251 - March 2004
The genus was named after the Greek word ‘agnos’ (gratitude), perhaps referring to the sweet scent of its flowers.
These dwarf, epiphytic climbing orchids occur in mountainous or savanna forests and alongside rivers in Trinidad, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Peru.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
Aganisia produce pseudobulbs and small flowers produced from a creeping rhizome. These flowers generally reach 4 cm in width. Their color varies from a rose-tinted violet to a blue-tinted violet. The flower has a short column foot and an elongate stipe.Forzza, R. C. 2010. Lista de espécies Flora do Brasil . Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
They are rarely cultivated.
Species
Four species are currently recognized (May 2014):
Aganisia cyanea (Lindl.) Rchb.f. - Blue orchid - Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil Aganisia fimbriata Rchb.f. - Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Guyana, Suriname Aganisia pulchella Lindl. - Trinidad, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil Aganisia rosariana (V.P.Castro & J.B.F.Silva) F.Barros & L.R.S.Guim. - Brazil (Rondônia)
Intergeneric Hybrids xDownsara. = Aganisia x Batemannia x Otostylis x Zygosepalum xHamelwellsara = Aganisia x Batemannianax Otostylis x Zygopetalum x Zygosepalum xMauriceara = Aganisia x Batemanniana x Pabstia x Promenaea x Otostylis x Zygopetalum x Zygosepalum xOtonisia = Aganisia x Otostylis xZygonisia = Aganisia x Zygopetalum
References
External links
Acacallis cyanea - Orchid, Acacallis cyanea is one of the most beautiful of the Zygopetalinae Royal Horticultural Society: Registration of Orchids Missouri Botanical Garden