Aa riobambae Schltr. 1921
Photo by R Medina/Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2019
TYPE Drawing by Schlechter and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website
LATE 
Common Name The Rio Bamba Aa
Flower Size Minute
Found in Cundinamarca department of Colombia and Cotopaxi province of Ecuador in paramo forests at elevations of 3300 to 3800 meters as a medium sized, cold growing terrestrial with when present, basal, fasciculate, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acute to subobtuse, tapering below into the very short, petiolate base leaves that blooms in the late spring and summer on an at first ascending, then erect, terminal, completly enveloped by diaphanous, imbricating, acuminate sheaths, rachis to 2" [5 cm] long, densely many flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, acute, entire wavy margins, surpassing the flowers in length floral bracts.
"This species is similar to Aa paleacea but Aa riobambae is a slender plant with subpetiolate base leaves that are only 1.6" [4 cm] long, versus a robust plant with petiolate leaves that is up to 8" [20 cm] long, and crenulate petal margins versus erose-denticulate." Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2019
Synonyms Altensteinia riobambae (Schltr.) A.D.Hawkes 1950
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
* Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 8: 38 Schlechter 1921
Phytologia 3: 248 A D Hawkes 1950 as Altensteinia riobambae
Flora of Ecuador 9(225: 1): 168 Garay 1978;
Flora Of Ecuador # 76 225[2] Dodson & Luer 2005 drawing
Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol 2: 22 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2019 drawing fide
Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol 2: 414 pl 3-4 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2019 photos fide
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