Elleanthus is a genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae, order Asparagales), first published by Carl Bořivoj Presl in 1827 in Reliquiae Haenkeanae. It is a large genus, with roughly 161 accepted species recognized by GBIF's taxonomic backbone.
Species in the genus are native to the warmer regions of the Western Hemisphere, ranging across Mexico, Central America, tropical South America, and the West Indies. GBIF's distribution data (sourced from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants) lists native populations spanning at least 20 regions, from Mexico and Central America through Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil to Caribbean islands including Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Leeward Islands — reflecting a broad Neotropical distribution.
The genus is commonly known by the English name "tiger orchid," a vernacular name recorded by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Distribution
Native to the warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere — Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies. GBIF/WCVP checklist data corroborates this with native records across at least 20 regions, including Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, and several Caribbean islands (Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Leeward Islands).
Taxonomy Notes
Elleanthus C.Presl was published in Reliquiae Haenkeanae 1: 97 (1827) and is accepted within family Orchidaceae, order Asparagales. GBIF's backbone currently recognizes about 161 descendant taxa in the genus.
