Microchilus diaphanus (Szlach. & Kolan.) E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021

Drawing of Aspidogyne diaphana by © A Krol and Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2017

EARLIER

Common Name The Diaphanous Microchilus [refers to the floral bracts]

Flower Size .08" [2 mm]

Found in Meta department of Colombia in the understory of selectively logged forest at elevations around 400 meters as a small sized, hot growing terrestrial with an erect slender stem carrying 3 to 5, in the lower part of the stem, elliptic-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, somewhat oblique, petiolate base leaves that blooms in the earlier winter on an erect, terminal, 2.8 to 3.2" [7 to 8 cm] long, subdensely many flowered inflorescence with ovate-lanceolate, somewhat oblique, diaphonous, sparsely glandular along the margins, longer than the ovary floral bracts and carrying cream colored flowers.

"The species is one of the smallest flowered in the genus. The species resembles M colombianus however it is easily distinguished by the narrowly cylindrical spur which is somewhat swollen towards the attenuate apex. The lip epichile is strongly recurved, transversely elliptic, rectangular, almost truncate at the apex with very obscurely marked lobation.

Synonyms *Aspidogyne diaphana Szlach. & Kolan. 2014

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Pl. Biosystems 148: 896 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2014 as Aspidogyne diaphana

Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol 1: 412 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2017 as Aspidogyne diaphana drawing fide;

* Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 197: 339 E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021

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