Cryptocentrum calcaratum (Schltr.) Schltr. 1913 SUBGENUS Cryptocentrum Photo courtesy of Larry Churchill

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Common Name or Meaning The Spurred Cryptocentrum

Flower Size 1" [2.5 cm]

Found in Costa Rica and Panama high in trees or at the forest edge in cloud forests or on tree trunks in pastures at elevations of 950 to 2400 meters as a small sized, warm to cool growing, monopodial epiphyte with grey roots and a short stem enveloped by leaf bearing sheaths and carrying several, distichous, basally articulate, leathery, linear-oblanceolate, abaxialy carinate towards the apex leaves that blooms on a wirey, axillary, [1 3/5" to 2 2/5" [4 to 6 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence with several acute bracts and the floral bract envelops the ovary and spur and carries a nocturnally scented flower occuring in the summer. High humidity and regular year round water and fertilizer as well as great air circulation are a must to keep this species happy.

Synonyms Cryptocentrum costaricense Schltr. 1912; *Pittierella calcarata Schltr. 1906

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum Plate 1307 Atwood 1989; Fieldiana Biology, Flora Costa Ricensis Family # 39 Orchidaceae, subtribes Maxillariinae and Oncidiinae Atwood & Mora 1997;Vanishing Beauty; Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 1 Pupulin 2005