Meliorchis

Meliorchis caribea
Temporal range: 15Ma

Miocene

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Cranichideae
Subtribe: Goodyerinae
Genus: Meliorchis
Species: M. caribea
Binomial name
Meliorchis caribea

Meliorchis is an extinct, early to middle Miocene orchid genus known only from a packet of pollen attached to the wing of a stingless bee trapped in Dominican amber. The sole species is Meliorchis caribea. Morphology of the pollinium shows that M. caribea is closely related to the modern genus Ligeophila.

See also

References