Acineta

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Acineta chrysantha

Orchid genus Acineta

Acineta superba

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Higher Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Maxillarieae
Subtribe:	Stanhopeinae
Genus:	Acineta Lindl. (1843)

Type species

Acineta superba
(Kunth) Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers (1863)

Species

Acineta alticola
Acineta antioquiae
Acineta barkeri
Acineta beyrodtiana
Acineta chrysantha
Acineta confusa
Acineta cryptodonta
Acineta dalessandroi
Acineta densa
Acineta erythroxantha
Acineta hagsateri
Acineta hennisiana
Acineta hrubyana
Acineta mireyae
Acineta salazarii
Acineta sella-turcica
Acineta sulcata
Acineta superba

Synonyms

Neippergia C. Morren

Acineta, abbreviated as Acn in horticultural trade, is a small genus belonging to the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The name is derived from the Greek word 'akinetos' (immobile), referring to the rigid labellum (lip).

These epiphytic orchids occur in tropical mountainous forests from Mexico to western South America, at altitudes up to 2,000 m. They are sometimes lithophytic when found on steep embankments.

The large, plicate leaves are parallel-nerved and resemble those of Peristeria and Lycaste, while the structure of the flowers bears a closer resemblance to Stanhopea.

The species produce a pendent inflorescence, bearing racemes of many fragrant cup-shaped, pale yellow to reddish brown flowers. The sidelobes of the labellum (lip) come together in a central callus. The basal part of the lip (hypochile) is at least as long as the sidelobes. The column is pubescent. The column of these orchids bears two pollinia, except in Acineta dalessandroi, which has four (making its classification in this genus doubtful). These orchids are insect pollinated by male bees in the genus Eulaema or Eufriesia.