odontogena

Odontogena is a historical genus name that appears in orchid taxonomy. The term is derived from Greek roots commonly used in orchid morphology, and in the 19th and early 20th centuries, some orchid taxa were described under Odontogena. Over time, subsequent taxonomic revisions reorganized many of these species into other genera.

Today, Odontogena is not recognized as a valid genus in major botanical databases. In several sources it is treated as a synonym of other genera or as an unresolved (nomen ambiguum) name. This reflects broader shifts in orchid classification prompted by new morphological analyses and, more recently, molecular phylogenetics.

As a result, taxa formerly listed under Odontogena have largely been reassigned to closely related genera such as Odontoglossum, Oncidium, Miltoniopsis, and other groups within the subtribe Oncidiinae or the family Epidendroideae. The changes illustrate how orchid taxonomy has evolved and why historical names persist in older literature and catalogs even after reclassification.

In cultivation and horticultural contexts, Odontogena typically appears in historical discussions rather than current practice; modern plant labels use the presently accepted genus names instead of Odontogena.

See also: Odontoglossum, Oncidium, Miltoniopsis, Orchidaceae.

References: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families; The Plant List.