Aganisia

Aganisia is a small South American genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), subfamily Epidendroideae.

The genus was named after the Greek word ‘agnos’ (gratitude), perhaps referring to the sweet scent of its flowers.

These dwarf, epiphytic climbing orchids occur in mountainous or savanna forests and alongside rivers in Trinidad, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Peru.

Aganisia produce pseudobulbs and small flowers produced from a creeping rhizome. These flowers generally reach 4 cm in width. Their color varies from a rose-tinted violet to a blue-tinted violet. The flower has a short column foot and an elongate stipe.

They are rarely cultivated.

Species
Four species are currently recognized (May 2014):


 * Aganisia cyanea (Lindl.) Rchb.f. - Blue orchid - Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil
 * Aganisia fimbriata Rchb.f. - Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Guyana, Suriname
 * Aganisia pulchella Lindl. - Trinidad, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil
 * Aganisia rosariana (V.P.Castro & J.B.F.Silva) F.Barros & L.R.S.Guim. - Brazil (Rondônia)

Intergeneric Hybrids

 * xDownsara. = Aganisia x Batemannia x Otostylis x Zygosepalum
 * xHamelwellsara = Aganisia x Batemannianax Otostylis x Zygopetalum x Zygosepalum
 * xMauriceara = Aganisia x Batemanniana x Pabstia x Promenaea x Otostylis x Zygopetalum x Zygosepalum
 * xOtonisia = Aganisia x Otostylis
 * xZygonisia  = Aganisia x Zygopetalum