Taxonomic separation of the genera Prosthechea and Encyclia (Laeliinae : Orchidaceae) using leaf and root anatomical features

Despite formal separation based on molecular and morphological evidence, the genera Prosthechea Knowles & Westc. and Encyclia Hook. have not been studied in terms of their vegetative anatomy. In this study we examine 16 Brazilian species of these genera. Additionally, one species of subtribe Laeliinae and another from subtribe Oncidiinae were studied in order to evaluate the taxonomic consistency of the anatomic characters observed. Except for Epidendrum crassifolium Lindl., all species possess a velamen differentiated into epivelamen and endovelamen. Endodermal cells with uniformly thickened walls, calcium oxalate raphides and cells with phi thickenings in the cortical region were observed in all species. Silica bodies, raphides and fibre bundles in the mesophyll were common in leaves of all species studied. By contrast, flavonoid crystals were observed in both roots and leaves of Prosthechea only. Encyclia is characterized by the presence of fibre bundles on the subepidermal layer, and a cuticle, which is clearly thicker than that of Prosthechea. These data strongly support the separation of Prosthechea and Encyclia. (C) 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.