Phymatochilum

Phymatochilum
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Epidendroideae Tribe: Cymbidieae Subtribe: Oncidiinae Genus: Phymatochilum Christenson 2005
Type species
Oncidium phymatochilum Lindl. 1848
Species
Phymatochilum brasiliense (Lindl.) Christenson 2005
Synonyms
None

Phymatochilum is an orchid genus formed by only one species, Phymatochilum brasiliense, inhabitant of Serra do Mar mountains in Brazilian southeast and northeast, which vegetatively resembles Oncidium species, however, is more closely related to the genus Miltonia.

Distribution and habit

Phymatochilum brasiliense is a comparatively large sympodial epiphyte species which inhabits high areas of the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Espírito Santo and Pernambuco States of Brazil, particularly in the warmer areas around Serra do Mar chain of mountains, where it is somewhat rare. It grows under the shadow of trees, however, mostly near the jungles well ventilated clearances where it can get brighter light, between 600 and 1,300 meters of altitude in dryer areas. It ordinarily grows over the trees where the shade is not intense, on thick branches.

Description

Measures (mm)
Structure	Lenght	Width
Rhizome	15	15
Leaf	500	100
Pseudobulb	100	70
Inflorescence	1800	-
Flower	50	25
Sepal	35	3
Petal	25	3
Labellum	18	12

Phymatochilum brasiliense blooms between from the end of summer to middle autumn and its sweet fragrant flowers last for about two weeks. There is no reference about their pollinators.