Pleurothallis
genus of plants
Pleurothallis is a genus of orchids commonly called bonnet orchids. The genus name is derived from the Greek word pleurothallos, meaning "riblike branches". This refers to the rib-like stems of many species. The genus is often abbreviated as "Pths" in horticultural trade.
This was a huge genus, which contained more than 1,200 species - the second largest in the Orchidaceae after Bulbophyllum. In 2004, it decreased by more than half when many species were moved into new genera.
Distribution
Pleurothallis is a completely New World group, widespread across much of Mexico, Central America, South America and the West Indies. Flora of North America lists one species in Florida (P. gelida) but this has now been transferred to a different genus, Stelis. The center of diversity of the genus is in the high Andes, especially in the chain of cloud forests in Colombia. Pleurothallis grows in dry or wet, tropical or temperate climates.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Pleurothallis” is genus of plants. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Pleurothallis, genus and plants, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “genus of plants” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jan 26, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q29979. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2004.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
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Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
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- Establish the record: confirm the title “Pleurothallis”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Pleurothallis primary sources, Pleurothallis archive and Pleurothallis research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
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This entry incorporates text from “Pleurothallis” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.