Microchilus rariflorus (Lindl.) E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021
Drawing as Aspidogyne rariflora by © Dunsterville & Garay
Drawing and Collection sheet by © Jany Renz and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website
Common Name The Rarely Flowering Microchilus
Flower Size .12" [3 mm]
Found in Antioquia department of Colombia and Venezuela at elevations around 1100 to 1500 meters as a small to medium sized, cool growing terrestrial with an erect stem carrying 11, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaves that blooms in the summer on a terminal, erect, 6.8 to 12" [17 to 30 cm] long, pedunculate, long pubescent, short rachis, laxly to 25 flowered inflorescence with ovate-lanceoalte, acuminate, shorter than the ovary floral bracts.
"Very similar to M popayanensis as both share the same habit, flower architechture and form of the lip. The 2 species can be distinguished by the petal form, which are linear to oblanceolate-linear, acute to subacute in the former and obliquely rhombic-oblanceolate, acute in the later.
Synonyms Aspidogyne rariflora (Lindl.) Garay 1977; Erythrodes rariflora (Lindl.) Ames 1922; *Physurus rariflorus Lindl.1846
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Orchid. Linden.: 28 Lindley 1846 as Physurus rariflorus
Studies in the family Orchidaceae Vol VII: 75 Ames 1922 as Erythrodes rariflora;
Flora Brasilica Vol XII II: Hoehne 1945;
Flora of Venezuela, Volumen 15 Orchidaceae Parte 1 Foldats 1969 as Erythrodes rariflora;
Venezuelan Orchids Illustrated Vol. 5 Dunsterville and Garay 1972 as Erythrodes calophylla = Aspidogyne rariflora drawing fide;
Bradea 2: 204 Garay1977 as Aspidogyne rariflora;
Orchids of Venezuela An Illustrated Field Guide Vol 1 Dunsterville and Garay 1979 drawing fide;
Orchids of Venezuela An Illustrated Field Guide Vol 1 Romero an d Carnevali 2000 drawing fide;
Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol 1: 431 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2017 drawing fide;
* Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 197: 343 E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021
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