Oeceoclades

 ( Eulophiinae Genera ) 

Oeceoclades, collectively known as the monk orchids, is a genus of from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is related to Eulophia and like that genus is mostly terrestrial in habit. A few species extend into very arid environments, unusual for an orchid.

The genus contains about 40 known species, most of which are narrow endemics to parts of Madagascar with some widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean. One species, O. maculata, has become naturalized in Mexico, South America, Central America, the West Indies and Florida. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesPridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.C. & Rasmussen, F.N. (2009). Epidendroideae (Part two). Genera Orchidacearum 5: 1-585. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.Garay, L. A. and P. Taylor. 1976. The genus Oeceoclades Lindl. Botanical Museum Leaflets of Harvard University 24: 249–274. Flora of North America, v 26 p 640, Oeceoclades Lindley, Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 18: plate 1522. 1832. In Florida and several other places, O. maculata is considered an invasive weed. Dave's Garden, PlantFiles: Species, Natural Hybrid Orchid, Monk Orchid, Spotted Oeceoclades Oeceoclades maculata CABI Invasive Weeds Compendium, Oeceoclades maculata

The only consistent morphological character that does not show intermediate forms in either genus and can thus separate Oeceoclades from Eulophia is the presence of two fleshy ridges on the basal part of the labellum (the hypochile). The genus was resurrected by Leslie Andrew Garay and Peter Taylor in 1976 and since then has been affirmed as a monophyly genus in molecular phylogenetic studies.Bone, R. E., E. Sanz, and S. Buerki. 2014. The transfer of Eulophia beravensis Rchb.f. to Oeceoclades Lindl., a genus with its centre of diversity in Madagascar (Eulophiinae, Orchidaceae). Candollea 69(2): 201-205.