Microchilus epiphyticus (Dressler) Ormerod 2002

TYPE Photo of Erythrodes epiphytica by © Dressler and The Epidendra Orchid Website

LATER EARLY

Common Name The Epiphytic Microchilus

Flower Size .08" [2 mm]

Found in Costa Rica and Cocle province of Panama in wet montane forests at elevations of 400 to 600 meters as a small to medium sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with several, elliptic, acute, gradually narrowing below into the petiolate base leaves that blooms in the later spring and early summer on an erect, terminal, 6 to 12" [15 to 30 cm] long, densely many flowered inflorescence with narrow tubular bracts and lanceolate floral bracts.

" Herbarium specimens may be confused with the common Microchilus nigrescens and especially with the larger-leaved forms of central Panama. Microchilus epiphytica is easily distinguished, however, by the more succulent stem and leaves, by the shorter, more densely clustered f1owers, and especially by the broad, indistinct petiole." Dressler 1993

Synonyms *Erythrodes epiphytica Dressler 1993

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

Orquídea (Mexico City), n.s., 13(1-2): 257, photo (p. 258). 1993 as Erythrodes epiphytica dphoto fide;

* Lindleyana 17: 216 Ormerod 2002

Manual De Plants De Costa Rica Vol III Hammel, Grayum, Herrera and Zamora 2003 as Erythrodes epiphytica;

Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol 1: 343 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2017 drawing fide;

Vanishing Beauty, Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 2 Lacaena to Pteroglossa Pupulin 2020 photo fide

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