Galeola is a genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae) belonging to the subfamily Vanilloideae.[1]
| Galeola | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Galeola septentrionalis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Vanilloideae |
| Tribe: | Vanilleae |
| Genus: | Galeola Lour.[1] |
| Species | |
See text | |
All species in this genus are myco-heterotrophic, i.e. they are parasitic upon fungi. The genus is spread throughout southeast Asia (from India to China to New Guinea) as well as Madagascar and Comoros.[2]
Galeola is of biological interest because of its exclusive myco-heterotrophic nature and its seeds. The seeds are the biggest orchid seeds in the world. They are winged, which is also extraordinary for an orchid.
Species
At present, there are 6 currently recognized species:[2]
- Galeola cathcarthii Hook.f. - Thailand, Myanmar, India (Assam, Sikkim) Bhutan
- Galeola faberi Rolfe - China, Assam, Nepal, Vietnam, Sumatra
- Galeola falconeri Hook.f. - India (Assam), Bhutan, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, China
- Galeola humblotii H.G.Reichb. - Madagascar, Comoros
- Galeola lindleyana (Hook.f. & J.W.Thomson) H.G.Reichb.- Bhutan, China, India (Assam), Sumatra, Vietnam, Nepal, Taiwan
- Galeola nudifolia Lour. (1790) - China, India (Assam), Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, New Guinea
