Homalopetalum pumilio (Rchb. f.) Schltr. 1923

Plant Photo Photos by © Milan Vagner

NOCTURNAL to and

Common Name Dwarf Homalopetalum

Flower Size to almost 2" [to almost 6 cm]

This miniature sized, cool to warm growing, trailing, pendant, epiphytic or lithophytic species with tiny mule ear leaves is found from Mexico to Peru on scrubby trees on larger branches and trunks or moss and lichen covered rocks in damp oak and pine forests with a dry season often in shade at elevetions of 500-2000 meters with ovate-eliptic pseudobulbs subtended by imbricate triangular sheaths and carrying a single subcoriaceous, ovate-lanceolate, carinate beneath leaf that is conduplicate at the base and blooms on a terminal, arcuate to pendant, short to 3" [2.5 to 7.7 cm], single flowered inflorescence arising on mature growths and occuring in the spring and summer and holding the nocturnally fragrant [herbal to watermelon] flowers just above leaf length. Cool, constant damp conditions will be needed and it is best mounted on a slab.

Synonyms Bletia pumilio Rchb.f 1862; *Brassavola pumilio Rchb.f 1844; Homalopetalum costaricensis Schltr. 1923; Homalopetalum lehmanniana (Kraenzl.) Schltr. 1923; Pinelia lehmanniana Kraenzl. 1899; Pinelia pumilio (Rchb. f.) Schltr. 1918; Pinelia tuerckheimii Krzl. 1930; Restrepia lehmanniana (Kraenzl.) Schltr. 1907; Sessilibulbum pumila (Ames) Brieger

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Xenia Orchidaceae vol 2 Rchb.f 1862 as Bletia pumilio; Las Orquedias de El Salvador Vol 3 Hamer 1983; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum Plate 926 Dodson 1984; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum Plate 1022 Dodson 1984; Flora Novo-Galaciana Vol 16 McVaugh 1985; Cattleyas and Their Relatives Withner Vol 3 1990 as Pinelia lehmanniana; Cattleyas and Their Relatives Vol 5 Withner 1998; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum Plate 1536 Atwood 1993; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 259 Bennett & Christenson 1995; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 2 Dodson 2002; Orquideologia Vol. 23 No 1 2004 photo; Vanishing Beauty; Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 1 Pupulin 2005; Icones Orchidacearum fascile 10 plate 1029 Hagsater & Soto 2008