Scaphosepalum hirtzii Luer 1980 SECTION Leiocaulium Luer 1988
Photo by Charles Lamb
TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer
Common Name or Meaning Hirtz's Scaphosepalum [Discoverer of species Current]
Flower Size 3/4" [2 cm]
Found in Pichincha province of Ecuador at elevations of 1500 to 2200 meters in wet cloud forests as a small sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with erect, slender ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths carrying a single apical, erect, thinly coriaceous, acute, long petiolate leaf that is cuneate below into the slender, channeled petiole and blooms in the spring to summer on a sublax, ascending to horizontal, successively single flowered, 8" [20 cm] long, slender, smooth inflorescence ariaing from low on the ramicaul and carrying thin tubular floral bracts.
The flower shape of this species is unique in the genus giving the flower a tongue with musk-ox horns-like appearance that closes off the column from pollinators so they must force their way through.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
* Phytologia 46: 385 Luer 1980; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol V Systematics of Dresslerella and Scaphosepalum Luer 1988 drawing fide; Orchids Travel By Air A Pictoral Safari Mulder, Mulder-Roelfsema and Schuiteman 1990 photo fide; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 5 Dodson 2004 photo fide;
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