Echinosepala aspasicensis (Rchb. f.) Pridgeon & M.W. Chase 2002 Photo courtesy of Nigel Carter

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Common Name The Aspasica Echinosepala [Town in the province of Santander, Colombia]

Flower Size 3/8" [1 cm]

Found from Costa Rica south to Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil as a medium sized, hot to cool growing epiphyte of moist forests, but it can also be encountered growing as a lithophyte or terresrial on sandstone outcrops in open habitats of southern Venezuela, at elevations of 550 to 1900 meters with stout, erect ramicauls enveloped by 6 to 8 loose, tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, thickly coriaceous, narrowly elliptical, subacute leaf that is cuneate below into the conduplicate, sessile base that blooms on a fascile of one to several, reptilian, singular flowers ariseing from the deep cleft of the conduplicate base of the leaf, occuring in the winter and spring

Synonyms Brenesia aspasicensis (Rchb.f.) Luer 2004; Echinella aspasicensis (Rchb.f.) Pridgeon & M.W.Chase 2001; Humboldtia aspasicensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze 1891; Humboltia aspasicensis (Rchb. f.) Kuntze 1891; Myoxanthus alexanderae (Schltr.) Luer 1922; Myoxanthus aspasicensis (Rchb. f.) Luer 1986; Myoxanthus pastacensis (Luer) Luer 1986; Pleurothallis alexandrae Schltr. 1923; *Pleurothallis aspasicensis Rchb. f. 1855; Pleurothallis pastacensis Luer 1976

References W3 Tropicos Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 4 Dodson 2003 as Pleurothallis aspacensis; Vanishing Beauty; Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 1 Pupulin 2005

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