Monotypic orchid genera: which ones are easily available?

[murph7]

Hi, I have this idea of collecting all orchids in a given genus, so what better than starting with monotypic orchid genera

Given that there are many out there, I would need some help in knowing which ones are "easy" to get.

Any idea? Thanks!

[Bulbopedilum]

I believe the most available is Mexipedium, which consists of M. Xerophyticum. Ludisia is also pretty common.
Here's a list

[AnonYMouse]

Seidenfadenia mitrata is a monotype or it isn't (was Aerides). Not too difficult to acquire.

[murph7]

For some reason I thought that Ludisia could not be just one species. I found Mexipedium quite charming. Thanks!

[PaphMadMan]

Ludisia has 2 recognized species, currently. The problem with your scheme is in aiming for a moving target. In 2012 Ludisia was monotypic, by 2013 it wasn't. New species are found, monotypes get merged into larger genera, etc. and it is often a matter of ongoing scientific debate.

You can check here World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for one opinion on the current status of any possibly monotypic genera. I do have a couple suugestions of relatively commonly grown "Oncidiums" that are currently considered monotypic genera - Nohawilliamsia and Zelenkoa.

[murph7]

Yes, I know that it is a silly scheme. I thought about monotypic genera first, but genera with a handful of examples are also a possibility.

In my mind, I find that having all the members of a particular group makes it special. I could say this group of plants is different from the one besides because of this or that characteristic.

After doing some research, I realized that the "majority" are not commercially available (for being too new, hard to grow, not wide appeal, etc.).

[PaphMadMan]

One really easy one just came to mind - easy to find and easy to grow - Dinema polybulbon. Though some still think of it as Encyclia, Dinema is the generally recognized genus and it is monotypic.

And from my previous post, Zelenkoa onusta is also pretty easy to find and easy to grow.