Gomphichis altissima Renz 1948

Drawing © by Bobbi Angel

Common Name The High Elevation Gomphichis

Flower Size

Found in Venezuela, Cesar, Cundinamarca, Cauca and Valle de Cauca departments of Colombia in subparamo, high montane and cloud forests at elvations of 1850 to 3000 meters as a large sized, cold growing terrestrial with 6, basal, oblong to linear-lanceolate, acute, somewhat oblique, long petiolate base leaves that blooms at any time of the year on an erect, robust, provided with several sheathing bracts, glabrous below, glandular above, peduncle to 33.6" [84 cm] long, rachis to 6.4" [16 cm] long, cylindrical, laxly flowered below, becoming densely above, many lowered inflorescence with ovate-lanceolate, acute, pubescent, longer than the ovary floral bracts and carrying externally pubescent, especially towards the base.

" Very similar to Gomphichis cladotricha but differs in the shape of the petal. G altissima has obovate petals with an acute apex. G cladotricha has oblong-ellitpic petals with an obtuse to subtruncate apex. Anothewr similar species is Gomphichis adnata but it has rhombiclip and triangular lateral lobes versus subovate lip with rounded lateral lobes.

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Candollea 11: 253 Renz 1948

Plant Syst Evol 301: 61. Nowak, S., Szlachetko, D.L., Mytnik-Ejsmont, J. et al. 2015 drawing fide;

Orquideas Tesoro de Colombia Ortiz & Uribe 2017 drawing good;

Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol 2: 66 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2019

Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol 2: 67 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2019 drawing fide

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