Cranichis tenuis Rchb.f.
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Authority
Ackerman, James D. 1995. An orchid flora of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 73: 1-203.
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Family
Orchidaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Plants small, terrestrial herbs to 35 cm tall. Roots several, fleshy, 2-3 mm diam. Leaves several, basal, elliptic to orbicular, base cuneate to acute, apex rounded to acute, 4-6 cm long, to 2 cm wide. Inflorescences terminal, erect; scape slender with a few distant scarious, sheathing bracts; raceme many-flowered, glandular pubescent above, 2-12 cm long; floral bracts green, leafy, obovate, less than half the length of the ovary. Flowers white, nonresupinate. Pedicellate ovary pubescent, 3-6 mm long. Perianth glabrous. Dorsal sepal broadly elliptic, rounded-obtuse, 2-3.5 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate-elliptic, obtuse, broader than dorsal sepal. Petals entire, oblong-elliptic, blunt, slightly shorter than sepals, ca. 1.5 mm wide. Lip fleshy, deeply concave, laterally compressed, hoodlike and surrounding the column, 2 mm long. Column ca. 0.7 mm long. Fruits ellipsoidal-cylindrical, 4-5 mm long, 2-3 mm diam.
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Discussion
2. Cranichis tenuis Reichenbach f., Flora 48: 274. 1865. Type. C. Wright 1478, from Cuba (W). Fig. 12. Phenology & Pollination. Plants bloom as early as July, but most flower in the fall months. Its pollination biology is unknown. Taxonomic Note. This species was mistaken for Cranichis diphylla Swartz by Liogier (1963; Alain 9317, NY). The Venezuelan record of Dunsterville and Garay (1979) of C. tenuis represents a different species.
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Distribution
General Distribution. Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. Distribution in Puerto Rico. Scattered in the western mountains; collected from Maricao, Sabana Grande, and San German. Habitat. Terrestrial in serpentine soils of moist, scrub forests at middle to high elevations (650-800 m); restricted, but locally common.
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