Dichaea

  • Authority

    Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.

  • Family

    Orchidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Dichaea

  • Description

    Genus Description - Pseudomonopodial epiphytes without pseudobulbs, with erect or pendent, leafy stems enveloped in conduplicate, distichously imbricate leaf bases. Leaves numerous, short to elongate, papery to coriaceous, articulated and eventually deciduous or not articulated and persistent. Inflorescences 1-flowered, short scapes from upper leaf axils. Flowers: sepals subsimilar, free, spreading; petals subequal to or narrower than sepals; lip attached to short column foot, usually clawed, usually 3-lobed, often anchoriform, usually without callus; column short, erect, wingless or narrowly winged, the clinandrium margins often denticulate, lower stigmatic edge continued into a tooth; pollinia 4, waxy. Capsules ovoid or oblong, muricate, setose or smooth. The taxonomy of Dichaea is difficult.

  • Discussion

    Dichaea sp. 1

    This species, known from five collections, has relatively long, narrow leaves (3.3-3.4 X 0.3 cm in Mori et al. 21042, NY). Fl (Jan). Unlike any Dichaea previously recorded for the Guianas, its growth form most closely matches that of D. cogniauxiana Schlechter (syn.: D. graminoides, sensu Cogniaux). It is also similar to D. brachypoda Reichenbach f., but examination of a bud (of Freiberg 51, at B) shows that the Saul plants have a glabrous ovary unlike the muricate ovary found in D. brachypoda. The lip of Freiberg 51, which may have been immature, measures 4.5 X 6 mm

    Dichaea sp. 2

    Caespitose epiphytes with laxly pendent stems upturned at apices. Leaves elliptic, acute, pale green, 2.1 X 0.8 cm, imbricate, with internodes to 3.5 mm. Flowers white with transverse purple band at the insertion of the lip; sepals broadly lanceolate, acute, 8 X 3 mm; petals lanceolate, acute, subequal to sepals; lip anchoriform, mucronulate, 5 X 6 mm; ovary and fruit muricate. Fl (Feb). Mori & Grade 21196.