Chysis
Chysis laevis, illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Embryophytes
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Spermatophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Epidendreae
Subtribe:	Bletiinae
Genus:	Chysis Lindl.
Type species
Chysis aurea
Synonyms[1]
Thorvaldsenia Liebm.

Chysis is a genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae), consisting of 10 currently accepted species (as of May 2014) which originate in the region from Mexico to Peru.^[1] Only two or three of these are commonly found in cultivation. The genus is abbreviated Chy in trade journals.

The genus is typified by elongate, spindle-shaped, usually pendulous pseudobulbs of several internodes, which may be fat or slender, depending on the species. The leaves tend to be quite soft and papery, strongly ribbed and long. The leaves can take a good deal more light than is apparent from their thickness. This genus also tends to be partially deciduous, though leaves are often retained for two years.

The inflorescences are multi-flowered and arise from the base of the pseudobulb with the new growth. Flower colour tends to range from white (as in Chysis bractescens) to orange-yellow (as in Chysis aurea and Chysis laevis), and the pollinia often tend to be fused (hence the genus name Chysis which is Greek for "melting").

Chysis are epiphytic and grow under shady and damp conditions up to 1000 meters elevation. The plants should be grown under intermediate conditions, generally mounted due to their pendulous habit, though some species adapt well to pot culture. The plants should be watered and fed heavily while they are in active growth, with less water given once the season's growth is completed. They should never be allowed to completely dry out, however, even during the rest period, and the pseudobulbs should never be allowed to shrivel.

Species accepted as of May 2014:^[1]

Image	Name	Distribution	Elevation (m)
	Chysis addita Dressler 2000	Chiapas, Guatemala	1,250 metres (4,100 ft)
	Chysis archilae Chiron 2010	Guatemala	400 metres (1,300 ft)
	Chysis aurea Lindl. 1837	Panama, Colombia, Venezuela	700–1,700 metres (2,300–5,600 ft)
	Chysis bractescens Lindl. 1840	Oaxaca, Tabasco, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua	800–1,500 metres (2,600–4,900 ft)
	Chysis bruennowiana Rchb.f. & Warsz. 1857	Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru	600–1,200 metres (2,000–3,900 ft)
	Chysis chironii Archila 2010	Guatemala	1,500–1,700 metres (4,900–5,600 ft)
	Chysis laevis Lindl. 1840	Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua	1,800 metres (5,900 ft)
	Chysis limminghei Linden & Rchb.f. 1858	Guatemala, Tabasco	0 metres (0 ft)
	Chysis tricostata Schltr. 1922	Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras	1,360 metres (4,460 ft)
	Chysis violacea Dressler 2003	Panama	500–1,000 metres (1,600–3,300 ft)

• Media related to Chysis at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Chysis at Wikispecies