Cleistes libonii (Rchb. f.) Schltr. 1926 C speciosa group

Photo by Maria de Penha Fagnani

To

Common Name Libon's Cleistes [Original Discoverer of Species later 1800's]

Flower Size 5" [12.5 cm]

Found in Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo states of Brazil as a medium to large sized, hot to cool growing terrestrial at elevations of sea level to 1200 meters near the sea with an erect stem carrying 8 or so, narrowly elliptic, acute, basally clasping leaves that blooms in the summer and fall on 2 to 4, terminal or axillary, 1.4 to 1.6" [3.5 to 4 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence carrying very showy, dark red flowers.

Synonyms *Pogonia libonii Rchb. f. 1865

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Xenia Orchidaceae vol 2 Rchb.f 1863 as Pogonia libonii; Flora Brasilica Vol VII 1 1-12 Hoehne 1940 drawing fide; Orchidaceae Brasiliensis Band 1 Pabst & Dungs 1975 drawing fide; Orquideas Da Chapada Diamantina Brito & Cribb 2005 drawing good; Orchidees du Bresil Orquideas da Serra do Castelo Vol 1 Chiron & Bolsanello 2013 drawing/photo fide

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