Ponthieva orchioides Schltr. 1917 Photo courtesy of David Jubineau and His Bulbophyllum Pages Copyright ©

Flower Closeup Photo courtesy of Herman Terborch of Botanische Orchideeën

Plants in situ Quindio' Colombia 5/08

Flower Closeup in situ Quindio' Colombia 5/08 Photos by © Jay Pfahl

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Common Name The Orchis-Like Pontheiva

Flower Size 3/8" [7.5mm]

Found in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador as a small sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial at elevations of 2000 to 3000 meters with fibrous roots and narrowly elliptic, acute leaves that blooms on an erect, terminal, 14" [35 cm] long, many flowered racemose inflorescence.

Cited as a synonym of Ponthieva racemosa yet there are several differences so I have left them separate pending more information. This seems to be an extremely varied species and if part of P racemosa even moreso. All plants that I have seen in central Colombia have reflexed acute, lanceolate sepals, differing greatly from others. See Colombia Photos of P orchioides.

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Venezuelan Orchids Illustrated Vol 1 Dunsterville & Garay 1959; AOS Bulletin Vol 38 No 6 1969; The Orchids of Cuba Llamacho & Larramendi 2005 as Ponthieva racemosa

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