Pleurothallis roraimensis Rolfe

  • Authority

    Schweinfurth, Charles. 1967. Orchidaceae of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 14: 69-214.

  • Family

    Orchidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pleurothallis roraimensis Rolfe

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - VENEZUELA. Bolivar: Mt. Roraima, summit, 2600 m alt., autumn 1898, McConnell & Quelch 687 (type) ; same locality. Central Camp, 1350-2000 m alt., G. H. H. Tate 446, 1021; same locality, 2040-2130 m alt., in forested southwest facing quebrada near Rondon Camp, epiphyte on tree trunk, leaves fleshy, deep green above and purple beneath, flowers pale yellow, September 26, 1944, Steyermark 58688; Auydn-tepui, cumbre de la parte sureste del brazo noroeste (division occidental del cerro): noroeste del "Drizzly Camp," vecindad de afluente de Rio Churún, oeste del Salto Churiin, en bosque humedo, 1850 m alt., along river, epiphyte 1.5 m up on tree branch, leaves 4 mm wide, May 5, 1964, Steyermark 93453; same locality, cumbre de parte central del brazo noroeste (division occidental del cerro): bosque al lado de pequeiia quebrada con agua entre las sabanas al sur de avioneta de Jimmy Angel, 1800 m alt., epiphyte on tree branch or trunk 1.5-2 m up, leaves 6-7 mm wide, dull green above, purple or with three purple lines beneath, flowers with maroon streaks, capsules pale green, angled. May 7, 1964, Steyermark 93547, 93554; same locality, cumbre de la parte sureste del brazo noroeste (division occidental del cerro) : faldas sobre piedras igneas, vecindad del "Rio Lomita Camp," 1800 m alt., in dwarf forest along stream, May 10, 1964, Steyermark 93612 (plant sterile); same locality, cumbre de la parte norte de la sección sur (division occidental del cerro) : a lo largo del Rio Churiin al pie de "Second Wall" de arenisca, desde el campamento norte, 5 km hacia el noreste, 1660 m alt., in moist mossy riverine forest, epiphyte on bark of tree, leaves purple beneath, 4-5 mm wide, May 12, 1964, Steyermark 93822; same locality, cumbre de la parte sur: meseta de piedra arenisca, entre "Oso woods camp" y "Libertador," 2050-2300 m alt., epiphyte at base of small tree along moist zanjon below and north of El Libertador, leaves dull green above and purple beneath, 4-5 mm wide, scapes filiform, wine-purple, flower and ovary wine-purple, May 15, 1964, Steyermark 93943; Ptari-tepui, 2288-2405 m alt., on densely forested steep southfacing slopes overlying sandstone, between "Cave Rock" and base of high sandstone bluffs, below moist bluff, epiphyte on branches of tree, leaves coriaceous, dull green above and deep lavender-orchid beneath, October 30, 1944, Steyermark 59562; same locality, 1800-1850 m alt., just northeast of "Cave Rock," November 4, 1944, Steyermark 59820a (with Lepanthes duidensis); same locality, 2410-2450 m alt., along base of east-facing high sandstone bluffs, epiphyte on branch of tree, leaves coriaceous, deep green above and purple beneath, November 7, 1944, Steyermark 59945; Cerro Guaiquinima, Rio Pardgua, 1800 m alt., frequent along rim of west escarpment 1 km west of Cumbre Camp, diminutive epiphyte, no flowers seen, December 30, 1951, B. Maguire 32849; same locality, 1650 m alt., frequent in dense "moss" forest below west escarpment, December 31, 1951, Maguire 32860; Chimantd Massif, 2000 m alt., elfin forest formation on plateau of southeast-facing upper shoulder of Apdcara-tepui, epiphyte on branch, leaves coriaceous, wine-purple, scape and pedicel purplish, flowers lavender and buff, June 19, 1953, J. A. Steyermark 75711; same locality, 2000-2100 m alt., rocky plateau on southeast-facing upper shoulder of Apdcara-tepui below summit, epiphyte on branch, leaves coriaceous, purple, ovate-elliptic, 5 mm long, 3 mm wide, scape filiform, June 20, 1953, Steyermark 75763; same locality, 2450-2500 m alt.. east-central portion of summit of Apdcara-tepui, on moist rock ledges around talus of large high rock, leaves coriaceous, rich green above and paler beneath, June 21-22, 1953, Steyermark 75865, 75871, 75918; Chimantd Massif, Toronotepui, 1970 m alt., on forested slopes below summit of west escarpment, epiphyte on branch, leaves coriaceous, dull green above and purple beneath, peduncle purplish, flowers pale yellow, February 9, 1955, J. A. Steyermark ir J. J. Wurdack 709; Chimantd Massif, Central Section, 2150 m alt., zanjones bordering rocky savanna above Upper Falls, between meanders of west branch of headwaters of Rio Tirica, epiphyte on branches, leaves coriaceous, deep purple, February 17, 1955, Steyermark ir Wurdack 926; Chimantd Massif, Torono-tepui, 1955-2020 m alt., on south-facing forested slopes above valley of South Caño, on summit, locally frequent epiphyte on tree limb, leaves purple-tinged beneath, flowers pale yellow, February 23, 1955, Steyermark ir Wurdack 1118; bosque humedo montafioso a lo largo del afluente izquierdo (Este) subiendo el Rio Venamo desde el campamento cerca de la union con el afluente derecho (Oeste) del Rio Venamo, 950-1000 m alt., epiphyte on Pourouma, January 10, 1964, Steyermark & Dunsterville 92937; bosque muscoso humedo montafioso a lo largo del afluente derecho (Oeste) subiendo el Rio Venamo, descendiendo el rio desde el campamento cerca de la union con el afluente Este, 950-1150 m alt., epiphyte, leaves dull dark green above and purple beneath, December 29-30, 1963, Steyermark ir Dunsterville 92353. (No flowers were found on either collection.) Amazonas: Cerro Sipapo (Paraque), 1500 m alt., frequent epiphyte in wet pygmy forest near Savanna Camp, December 11, 1948, B. Maguire & L. Politi 27595 (fruiting); Cerro Huachamacari, Rio Cunucunuma, 1800 m alt., in cumbre near Summit Camp, epiphyte, flowers cream-colored, December 14, 1950, B. Maguire, R. S. Cowan & J. J. Wurdack 30204a; Cerro de la Neblina, Rio Yatua, 1700-1800 m alt., in scrub forest along escarpment west of Cumbre Camp, occasional epiphyte on tree trunks, January 6, 1954, B. Maguire, J. J. Wurdack & G. S. Bunting 37073 (fruiting).

  • Distribution

    VENEZUELA. Bolivar: Mt. Roraima, summit, 2600 m alt., autumn 1898, McConnell & Quelch 687 (type) ; same locality. Central Camp, 1350-2000 m alt., G. H. H. Tate 446, 1021; same locality, 2040-2130 m alt., in forested southwest facing quebrada near Rondon Camp, epiphyte on tree trunk, leaves fleshy, deep green above and purple beneath, flowers pale yellow, September 26, 1944, Steyermark 58688; Auydn-tepui, cumbre de la parte sureste del brazo noroeste (division occidental del cerro): noroeste del

    Venezuela South America|