orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioideae (Slipper Orchids)

[Lizgeo]

I didn't know the later two genus, thank you for the informtion.

Based on the distribution, I suspect that Cypripedium appeared before North America plate was separated from Europe, and about the same time, Asia plate joined Europe to form Eurosian. Other genus evolved from from Cypripedium after this continental event, so they have regional distribution of each genus. I wonder if anyone ever has done the search to trace the genetics of them.

[Dorsetman]

I didn't know the later two genus, thank you for the informtion.

Based on the distribution, I suspect that Cypripedium appeared before North America plate was separated from Europe, and about the same time, Asia plate joined Europe to form Eurosian. Other genus evolved from from Cypripedium after this continental event, so they have regional distribution of each genus. I wonder if anyone ever has done the search to trace the genetics of them.

Are you a palaeontologist ? Or merely an orchidist getting sucked into all that jazz as a result of thinking about orchid distribution ( like me). However, one of my e-mail mates is a proper palaeontologist ( retired Professor) involved in orchids as dogsbody in his wife's collection, and he has been putting me right on some of my deductions in this sort of area. It seems that there is a major difference in sea level today, as compared to the time in the late Cretaceous when the relevant evolution probably happened - of course the absence of fossils for soft tissue plants makes it almost all a matter of deduction only ! But there were land links in places which are not entirely obvious most(all ?) of the continents are surrounded by continental shelves where the water is very shallow, and the phenomena of isostasy also has an effect . It seems that these land bridges where they seem unlikely to us , enabled transmission of genetic material across what we think of as seas, and this is the explanation for some genera ( not Cyprepedioidiae) being present on both sides of the South Atlantic although probably evolved at a time when it is thought the South Amnerican plate was well on its way towards North America.
A fascinating subject - rapidly becoming my hobby horse... must stop !

[Lizgeo]

I did have a BS on palaeontology, but I mainly work as geologist these days without spending that much time on paleo any more.

The idea of continental drift and its possible on orchid distribution and evolution came to me when I saw Cypripedium in both America and Asia, then read from other poeple's post that it also grows in Europe. But, I can't find that much publication on orchid evolution. I guess geologists and orchidist haven't really come together on this topic.

Do you know other orchid genus that spread over two continents?

Maybe this can be my phD topic someday after I retire:-)

Are you a palaeontologist ? Or merely an orchidist getting sucked into all that jazz as a result of thinking about orchid distribution ( like me). However, one of my e-mail mates is a proper palaeontologist ( retired Professor) involved in orchids as dogsbody in his wife's collection, and he has been putting me right on some of my deductions in this sort of area. It seems that there is a major difference in sea level today, as compared to the time in the late Cretaceous when the relevant evolution probably happened - of course the absence of fossils for soft tissue plants makes it almost all a matter of deduction only ! But there were land links in places which are not entirely obvious most(all ?) of the continents are surrounded by continental shelves where the water is very shallow, and the phenomena of isostasy also has an effect . It seems that these land bridges where they seem unlikely to us , enabled transmission of genetic material across what we think of as seas, and this is the explanation for some genera ( not Cyprepedioidiae) being present on both sides of the South Atlantic although probably evolved at a time when it is thought the South Amnerican plate was well on its way towards North America.
A fascinating subject - rapidly becoming my hobby horse... must stop !