Barkeria obovata (C. Presl) Christenson 1989

Flower Closeup Photos Courtesy of Diederick Antoni

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Common Name Obovate Barkeria

Flower Size about 1" [2.2 cm]

This Central American epiphytic species formerly known as Barkeria chinensis, is commonly found in hot conditions on the west coast of Mexico between 300 to 800 meters and in the rest of Central America it can be found at elevations of 240 to 3700 meters so it can be a small to large sized, warm or cold growing twig-epiphyte depending on where it was collected. It is also found inland in Morelos state and Mr Bussey has found a few plants in Veracruz state near Mata Obscura growing along with Ionopsis. This species has a short rhizome giving rise to erect, fusiform, slightly compressed, 4 to 7 noded pseudobulbs enveloped completely by sheaths and carrying 2 to 7, distichous, narrowly linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate, fleshy, somewhat conduplicate below, grey-green, deciduous leaves that are often not present at blooming which is on an apical, to 18" [45 cm] long, green-purple, racemose to paniculate, simultaneously many [1 to 70] flowered inflorescence arising on a maturing pseudobulb with narrowly triangular, acuminate, scarious, white floral bracts and occurring in the winter with flowers that barely open.

Synonyms Barkeria chinensis (Lindl. ex Benth.) Thien 1966; Barkeria nonchinensis [Rchb.f]Schlechter 1914; Barkeria naevosa subsp. strophinx (Rchb.f.) Halb. 1974; Broughtonia chinensis [Lindley]Ames 1842; Epidendrum chinensis [Lindley] Ames 1924; Epidendrum nonchinense Rchb.f 1876; Epidendrum strophinx Rchb.f 1876; Laeliopsis chinense Lindley ex Rchb.f 1882; *Oncidium obovatum C. Presl 1827

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Lankester's Epidendra Website CR ; Reliq. Haenk. 99. 1827 as Oncidium Obovatum; Orchid Digest Vol 44 No 2 1980 as B chinense photo; Orchid Digest Vol 44 No 2 1980 as B strophinx photo; Miniature Orchids Northen 1980 as Barkeria chinensis; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1987 as Epidendrum chinense; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum Atwwod & Mora 1993; Field Guide to the Orchids of Costa Rica and Panama Dressler 1993; Field Guide to the orchids of Costa Rica and Panama Dressler 1993 as Barkeria chinensis; Cattleyas and Their Relatives Vol 5 1998 as B chinensis; Cattleya and Their Relatives Vol 5 Withner 1998; Cattleya and Their Relatives Vol 5 Withner 1998 as B strophinx; Australian Orchid Review Vol 69 No 6 2004/5 photo; Vanishing Beauty; Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 1 Pupulin 2005; Icones Orchidacearum Fascile 10 plate 1005 Hagsater & Soto 2008

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