Peristeria (plant)
# Peristeria (plant)

Peristeria is a genus of plants of the family Orchidaceae commonly called dove orchid or Holy Ghost orchid. In line with the common name, the genus' name is from the Greek word peristerion meaning "from dove". According to the Royal Horticultural Society, Per is the official orchid abbreviation for this genus. In nature, it is found across much of South America as well as in Panama, Costa Rica and Trinidad.

Peristeria elata is the national flower of Panama and is extremely over-collected in its native habitat. This over collection has led to its status as a species threatened with extinction delineated in Appendix I of CITES. In its native habitat, Peristeria can usually be found growing near the edge of hardwood forests. In the fall, after the trees in the hardwood forest lose their leaves, the plants are exposed to full sun throughout the cool, dry winter. Species in this genus are either epiphytic or terrestrial in growth habit.

## Species

| Scientific name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
| - | - | - |
| Peristeria aspersa Rolfe 1890 | Brazil (Amazonas), Venezuela, French Guiana | |
| Peristeria cerina Lindl. 1837 | Panama to Trinidad and Brazil (Pará) | 200–1,000 metres (660–3,280 ft) |
| Peristeria cochlearis Garay 1972 | Colombia | 0 metres (0 ft) |
| Peristeria elata Hook. 1831 | Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panamá, Venezuela | 100–700 metres (330–2,300 ft) |
| Peristeria ephippium Rchb.f. 1883 | Colombia to Venezuela (Amazonas) | |
| Peristeria esperanzae P.Ortiz 2008 | Colombia. | 200 metres (660 ft) |
| Peristeria guttata Knowles & Westc. 1838 | Bolivia, Brazil North, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela | 400 metres (1,300 ft) |
| Peristeria leucoxantha Garay 1954 | Colombia (Cauca), Ecuador | |
| Peristeria lindenii Rolfe 1891 | Ecuador to Peru | 800–1,000 metres (2,600–3,300 ft) |
| Peristeria oscarii-rodrigoi Archila, Szlach. & Kolan. 2015 | Guatemala. | |
| Peristeria pendula Hook. 1836 | Brazil (Amazonas, Pará), Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panamá, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela | 500–1,500 metres (1,600–4,900 ft) |
| Peristeria selligera Rchb.f. 1887 | Guyana | |
| Peristeria serroniana (Barb.Rodr.) Garay 1954 | Brazil (Pará) | |
