Maxillaria alpestris Lindl.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Orchidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Maxillaria alpestris Lindl.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - VENEZUELA. Bolivar: Mt. Roraima, between Rondon Camp and base of sandstone bluffs, 2040-2255 m alt., on southwest-facing forested slopes, on branch of tree, sepals and petals pale green, lip green and buff-brown, September 30, 1944, J. A. Steyermark 58946; Ptari-tepui, between "Cave Rock" and base of high sandstone bluffs, 2100-2285 m alt., epiphyte on mossy tree trunk on steep densely forested south-facing slopes overlying sandstone, sepals salmon-brick, petals pale yellow and salmon, lip yellow, October 30, 1944, Steyermark 59546; Chimanta Massif, northwestern part of Abacapa-tepui, 1300 m alt., on forested slopes adjacent to quebrada in vicinity of Camp 3, on tree trunk, leaves coriaceous, rich green above and dull green beneath, capsule triangular, rich green, April 20, 1953, Steyermark 75180; Chimantd Massif, Central Section, 1940 m alt., on border of large rock, b) large savanna below Upper Falls of Río Tirica above Summit Camp, sepals and petals pale yellow-olive, lip pale greenish yellow, with dull magenta in center, column pale lilac, February 7, 1955, J. A. Steyermark & J. J. Wurdack 601; Chimanta Massif, Torono-tepui, 1895-1910 m alt., on summit, along Caño Mojado, between base of upper falls and drop to escarpment, on tree trunk, leaves coriaceous, rich green, sepals and petals greenish yellow, lip greenish at base with carinate greenish yellow crest, dull brown-lavender in front with greenish yellow tip, column dull greenish white with pale lavender below the middle on inner surface, February 23, 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 1097; Chimantd Massif, Agparaman-tepui, 1880-1955 m alt., on southeast-facing forested slopes below escarpment, locally frequent terrestrial, leaves rich green above and pale below, subcoriaceous, sepals and petals greenish yellow, lip dull yellow at base and dull pale brown on central lobe, column pale green below and yellow above, February 26, 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 1143; Chimantd Massif, Toronotepuf, 1760-1880 m alt., on slopes of Afiddle Falls of Rio Tirica, below Summit Camp, locally frequent terrestrial in Clusia forest, sepals and petals pale green, lip dull lavender with pale green margins, March 1, 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 1207; Auydn-tepui, northwest section of summit, 1780 m alt., "Drizzly Camp," on spreading moss-laden tree by side of river, G. C. K. Dunsterville 845; bosque enano a lo largo del afluente Este del Rio Venamo, sobre el hombrillo superior del cerro, 1400 m alt., along stream in quebrada, epiphyte on branch, leaves coriaceous, deep green above and dull beneath, sepals and petals dull yellow, lip greenish yellow at base, brown with pale green margins in upper half, column buff, January 3, 1964, J. A. Steyermark & G. C. K. Dunsterville 92706 (determination questionable as no flower seen) . ECUADOR (types of M . alpestris and M. xantholeuca) and PERU (type of M. xantholeuca var. peruviana).

  • Discussion

    Maxillaria xantholeuca Schlechter, Fedde Repert. Beih. 8: 98. 1921; Mansf., Fedde Repert. Beih. 57: t. 97, nr. 381. 1929.

    Maxillaria xantholeuca Schlechter var. peruviana C. Schweinf., Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harvard Univ. 11: 293. 1945.

  • Distribution

    VENEZUELA. Bolivar: Mt. Roraima, between Rondon Camp and base of sandstone bluffs, 2040-2255 m alt., on southwest-facing forested slopes, on branch of tree, sepals and petals pale green, lip green and buff-brown, September 30, 1944, J. A. Steyermark 58946; Ptari-tepui, between "Cave Rock" and base of high sandstone bluffs, 2100-2285 m alt., epiphyte on mossy tree trunk on steep densely forested south-facing slopes overlying sandstone, sepals salmon-brick, petals pale yellow and salmon, lip yello

    Venezuela South America| Ecuador South America| Peru South America|