Orchids of French Guiana

The present study is based on herbarium materials and field expeditions carried out by Szlachetko in 1997 and 1999. Total number of specimens revised was about 4500. The keys for taxa determination are dichotomous. Subfamilies, tribes and subtribes are placed in the taxonomic order (Szlachetko 1995 with later changes by Slachetko & Rutkowski 2000, Slachetko & Margosnka 2002, Slachetko 2003, and Szlachetko & Mytnik - Ejsmont 2009). The account of every species contains: Latin name, abbreviation of authors' surnames, citation, synonymy, taxonomic description, ecology, distribution and list of representative specimens French Guiana (Guyane Francaise) is an overseas department of France situated in the north - east part of South America. It borders Brazil to the east and south, Suriname to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the North. The eastern and western borders are naturally demarcated, following the rivers Oyapoch and Maroni. The southern borders runs along the Tumuc - Humac Mountains. French Guiana extends 450 km from north to south and 300 km east to west. 95.5% of the forested areas consist of primary equatorial forest, unchanged by settlers, of the highest biodiversity. This makes French Guiana a country whose flora has changed a little, thus providing an interesting field for research into biological diversity.