Archivea

Archivea is a monotypic genus of orchids containing only the species Archivea kewensis. Known only from an 1823 watercolour illustration, it was described in 1996 by botanists Eric A. Christenson and Rudolf Jenny. It is believed to be native to Brazil, however, it has yet to be documented beyond the original 1823 illustration.

==Taxonomy and history== A live specimen of the plant later described as Archivea kewensis was brought from Brazil to the United Kingdom in 1816, coming into the possession of amateur botanist W.R. Price. A watercolour illustration of this plant, painted by T. Duncanson and dated 29 July 1823, formed the sole basis of the species' scientific description over 150 years later. The illustration came to be held in the collection of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where it was examined and annotated by German orchidologist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach. Reichenbach's note reads "Videtur Warmingia Rchb.f. g. aff. Notyliae brasiliense, Rchb.f.", alluding to a perceived similarity between the plant in the illustration and the Oncidiinae genus Warmingia.