Microchilus capitatus Ormerod 2005

TYPE Drawing of M crassibasis var canariense by © Ormerod and Harvard Pap. Bot. 9[2]: 401 fig 9 Ormerod 2007

Common Name The Head Shaped Microchilus [refers to the inflorescence shape]

Flower Size .12" [3 mm]

Found in Cusco department of Peru in deep shade at elevations around 1000 to 2100 meters as a small sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial with an erect, terete stem carrying 3 to 4, obliquely ovate, acute leaves that blooms in the winter on an erect, terminal, pubescent, 9.24" [23.1 cm] long, peduncle 8.08" [20.2 cm] long, provided with 6, scattered sheathing bracts, rachis 6.2" 1.16" [2.9 cm] long, provided with a few basal sterile floral bracts, very densely 5 flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, acute, longer than the ovary floral bracts and carrying externally pubescent, flowers.

"This species is similar to Microchilus ovatus , which also has a long pedunculate inflorescence and short, densely flowered rachis. However, M. capitatus has a shorter peduncle (8.08" versus 11.6 to 12" [20.2 vs. 29.0-30.0 cm]), flowers with a wider labellum epichile (.24 versus .16" [6 vs. 4 mm)] and a longer column (.096 versus .48" [2.4 vs. 1.2 mm])." Ormerod 2005

Synonyms Microchilus peruvianus Szlach. & Kolan. 2016

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Harvard Pap. Bot. 9[2]: 400 Ormerod 2005 drawing fide;

Harvard Pap. Bot. 9[2]: 401 fig 9 Ormerod 2007

Phyton (Horn) 56: 257 Szlach. & Kolan. 2016 as Microchilus peruvianus;

Harvard Papers in Botany, Vol. 24, No. 2: 275 2019

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