Catasetum maranhense Lacerda & da Silva 1998 Photo courtesy of © Dalton Holland Baptista © and Orchidstudium

Inflorescence Photo courtesy of JEM Orchids

Common Name or Meaning The Maranhão Catasetum [A state in NE Brazil]

Flower Size 5/8" [1.5 cm]

A newly described Brazilian species.

This is a medium sized, hot to warm growing, epiphytic Brazilian species found in babassu [a palm] forest at elevations of 70 to 400 meters with clustered, fusiform pseudobulbs enveloped basally by to 13, arched, oblanceolate, plicate leaves that blooms in the fall in Brazil on a [male] basal, erect to arching, 16 3/4" [42 cm] long, racemose, several to many [to 31] flowered inflorescence with lanceolate stem clasping bracts, and resupinate flowers.

This species has similarities to C labiatum but this one has an acuminate, apical lobe while the other has a ligulate apical lobe.

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The World Of Catasetum Holtz 1999; Icones Orchidacearum Brasilienses I Plate 033 Campacci & Neto 1999 drawing fide

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