Cranichis acuminatissima Ames & C.Schweinf. 1930 Ocampoa Group HOLOTYPE Collection sheet by © Dressler and The Epidendra Website

LATE EARLY

Common Name The Most Acuminate Cranichis [refers to the leaves]

Flower Size

Found in Costa Rica on logs or on the ground in forests at elevations around 2000 to 2400 meters as a miniature to small sized, cold growing epiphyte or terrestrial with tuberous roots giving rise to 1 to 3, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, very acuminate, grading into sessile sheathing bracts above, abruptly narrowing below into the elongate, petiolate base leaf that blooms in the late winter and early spring on a terminal, erect, peduncle 7 to 8.4" [7 to 21 cm] long, glabrous below, shortly pubescent above, rachis 1.2 to 2.4" [3 to 6 cm] long, shortly pubescent, apparently elongating while blooming, laxly, successively several to many flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, acuminate, the lower ones as long as the ovary, the upper ones shorter than the ovary floral bracts.

"Appears to be closely related to Cranichis sylvatica but differs in its very acuminate leaves which are cauline as weell as basal and in itsw pubescent ovaries and larger lip. In habit this orchid is very similar to Cranichis saccata but it has a very different lip.

Synonyms Ocampoa acuminatissima (Ames & C.Schweinf.) Szlach. & Kolan. 2017

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Schedul. Orchid. 10: 12 Ames & C Schweinfurth 1930

Field Guide to the Orchids of Costa Rica and Panama Dressler 1993;

Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica Hammel, Grayum,Herrera and Zamora 2003

Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 102: 713 Szlach. & Kolan. 2017 as Ocampoa acuminatissima

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