Maxillaria elatior (Rchb. f.) Rchb. f. 1863 Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt, plant grown by Andy's Orchids.

Another Clone Photo courtesy of Nina Rach and Downs Matthews

To To

Common Name The Sturdy Maxillaria

Flower Size 2" [5 cm]

Found from Mexico to Costa Rica in evergreen forests on larger branches at elevations of 400 to 1500 meters as a medium sized, cool to warm growing epiphyte with an upright climbing growth habit carrying 2", ovate, smooth to rugose, laterally compressed pseudobulbs envelopped basally by several, distichous, imbricate, deciduous, conduplicate leaf-bearing sheaths carrying one or two, 8" [20 cm] long by 2" wide, glossy, petiolate foliage and 3-4 basal, as well as apical, short, single flowered inflorescence emerging from maturing growths over several months in the fall to spring with fragrant flowers.

Synonyms Camaridium xylobiichilum Kraenzl. 1920; *Dicrypta elatior Rchb. f. 1843; Maxillaria albertii Schltr. 1923; Maxillaria triangularis Lindl. 1845; Maxillariella elatior (Rchb. f.) M.A. Blanco & Carnevali 2007

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 853 Dodson 1983; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 1344 Atwood 1993; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 1344a Atwood 1993; Fieldiana Biology, Flora Costa Ricensis Family # 39 Orchidaceae, subtribes Maxillariinae and Oncidiinae Atwood & Mora 1997;

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------