Coilostylis pugioniformis (Regel) D.P.Banks 2004 Photo courtesy of Andy's Orchids Copyright © 2002 All rights reserved.

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Common Name The Dagger-Shaped Coilostylis

Flower Size 2 1/4" [5.6 cm]

A very beautiful, small to medium sized, pendant growing Epidendrum found only in south western Mexico in moist pine-oak forests at elevations of 1800 to 2500 meters as a cold to cool growing epiphyte or occasional lithophyte with a wonderfully odd growth habit, producing a chain of pendant 1"-6" [2,5 to 15 cm] long, thick, fusiform-shaped psuedobulbs enveloped basally in youth by several, imbricate, scarious sheaths and carrying 3-5, dark green 4" [10 cm], acute, basally clasping leaves, emerging from the newest matured growths are 2"-4" [5 to 10 cm] long, arching, racemose inflorescence bearing 5 to 10, very beautiful, 2 1/4" [5.6 cm], simultaneously opening, nocturnally fragrant [soap] flowers, the starry blooms have green to coppery-brown sepals and petals, and a green pointy lip with a prominent red disc. Blooming occurs from the winter until early summer.

Many authorities cite this one as a synonym of C parkinsonianum but it is quite different so I leave it as a separate species.

Synonyms Epidendrum pugioniforme Regel 1890

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Orchidacearum I Plate 39 Hagsater and Salazar 1990 drawing not = E hagsateri; The Illustrateed Encyclopedia of Orchids Pridgeon 1992 photo fide; Miniature orchids McQuuen 1992 photo fide; Australian Orchid Review Vol 69 No 4 2004 photo;

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