Dichaea latifolia Lindl.
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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 pendent from trees or large rocks. Roots mostly at base of shoots and older portions of stems, 0.5-1 mm diam. Stems ensheathed by persistent leaf bases, to 90 cm long, 2-4 mm diam. Leaves numerous; sheaths flattened, angled to stem, 4-9 mm long, 2-5 mm wide; blades entire, oblong-elliptic, obtuse to rounded, apiculate to slightly erose at apex, 4-19 mm long, 4-7 mm wide. Inflorescences axillary, single-flowered, scattered along upper portions of the stem and oriented above foliage; peduncle geniculate, 10-17 mm long; floral bract membranous, suborbicular, funnellike, 2-3.5 mm long. Flowers green, purple spotted, externally tuberculate, resupinate. Ovary sessile, echinate. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, elliptic-ovate to elliptic-oblanceolate, acute to acuminate, 7-10 mm long, 3-4 mm wide; lateral sepals lanceolate to elliptic, acute to acuminate, 6.5-10 mm long, 3-3.5 mm wide. Petals glabrous, entire, ovate to narrowly elliptic, acute to acuminate, 6.5-10 mm long, ca. 3.5 mm wide. Lip short-clawed, anchorshaped, apex and lateral tips pointed, 5-6.5 mm long, 8-9 mm wide when spread. Column green and white, erect, stout, lacking an infrastigmatic ligule, 2.5-3.5 mm long; pollinia yellow. Fruits ca. 10 mm long, covered with soft spines.
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Discussion
2. Dichaea latifolia Lindley, Gen. Sp. Orchid. PL 208. 1833. Type. Guilding s.n., from St. Vincent (K, could not be located). Dichaea muricata (Swartz) Lindley var. latifolia (Lindley) Grisebach, Fl. Brit. W. 624. 1864. Phenology & Pollination. Flowers are produced in the fall and winter. Pollination biology is unknown for this species, but fruits are commonly seen and, like Dichaea hystricina, D. latifolia is likely autogamous. Taxonomic Notes. According to J. Folsom (pers. comm.), monographer of Dichaea and taxonomist at the Huntington Botanical Garden, D. latifolia is not synonymous with D. muricata, the species that is usually listed for Puerto Rico. The latter name has been improperly interpreted and applies to a species not reported from Puerto Rico.
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Distribution
General Distribution. Colombia, Venezuela, and West Indies. Distribution in Puerto Rico. Collected from Adjuntas, Barranquitas, Canovanas, Jayuya, Maricao, Naguabo, Rio Grande, San German, and Utuado. Habitat. Epiphytic or lithophytic in the understory of dense, wet forests at high elevations (800-900 m); rare.
Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| West Indies|