Taxonomy
To bring some order in this extremely diverse genus, 29 subgenera and 25 sections had been created. Much of this work has been done by Dr. C. Luer of MOBOT. A new analysis, based on DNA testing, has confirmed on the whole the classification of the subtribe Pleurothallidinae, with however Pleurothallis as the main difference. This should not surprise anyone, since this somewhat artificial genus has been the dumping ground for species that did not fit into any other genus. New genetic insight has broken up this huge genus and made it more consistent with the principles of monophyletic genera and evolutionary relationships.
Several times before, a splitting up has been attempted, but there were always too many intermediate forms. In 2004 the new genera Acianthera, Ancipitia, Antilla, Apoda-prorepentia, Areldia, Atopoglossum, Brenesia, Crocodeilanthe were created, incorporating a large number of former Pleurothallis species (Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 255. 2004 ). The subgenera Pleurothallis and Specklinia are becoming separate genera, and the subgenus Acuminatae might become the proposed genus Anathallis.
Other allied genera include: Dracula, Masdevallia, Restrepia and Stelis.
Read more about this topic: Pleurothallis