Porroglossum

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Porroglossum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Epidendroideae Tribe: Epidendreae Subtribe: Pleurothallidinae Genus: Porroglossum Schltr.
Species
Porroglossum andreettae Porroglossum dalstroemii Porroglossum dreisei Porroglossum echidna Porroglossum hirtzii Porroglossum meridionale Porroglossum mordax Porroglossum muscosum Porroglossum olivaceum Porroglossum portillae Porroglossum tripollex etc.

Porroglossum (from Greek "far off" and "tongue", referring to the position of the lip) is a genus of orchids with 28 species, distributed in the Andes. This genus is abbreviated Prgm in horticultural trade.

The lip is unique in this genus: it is hinged and has a mechanism that snaps shut when stimulated by a pollinator, thus trapping the insect to ensure that the pollinia will be removed and later transferred to the receptive surface. The lip opens after 30 minutes or so to release the insect, but also closes at night and reopens at dawn.

Lothiania Kraenzl. and Lothoniana Kraenzl. are synonym of Porroglossum.