Elleanthus cordidactylus Ackerman

  • Authority

    Ackerman, James D. 1995. An orchid flora of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 73: 1-203.

  • Family

    Orchidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Elleanthus cordidactylus Ackerman

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants epiphytic or lithophytic, caespitose herbs. Roots numerous from rhizome, 1.5-2 mm diam. Stems clustered, slender, erect, to 30 cm tall. Leaves linear, apex trifid, the middle tooth much longer than the lateral teeth, 3-12 cm long, 2-3 mm wide. Inflorescences terminal, spicate, 10-20 mm long, 10-15 mm wide, multiflowered, reminiscent of grass spikelets; floral bracts distichous, conduplicate, imbricate, to 9 mm long. Flowers white, resupinate, inconspicuous, largely concealed by bracts, sometimes deformed. Ovary sessile, 3 mm long. Dorsal sepal concave, sparsely pubescent, entire, lanceolate, acute, to 3.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; lateral sepals basally concave, entire, ovate-oblique, acuminate, ca. 3.5 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide. Petals linearoblong, often slightly constricted near the middle, rounded, 3.5 mm long, 1 mm wide. Lip variable, trilobed, basally saccate with 2 low, rounded callosities, apical margin erose-ciliate, recurved, 3.5-4.5 mm long, 2.0-4.5 mm wide. Column semiterete, ca. 2 mm long. Fruit ellipsoidal, ca. 5 mm long.

  • Discussion

    1. Elleanthus cordidactylus Ackerman, Lindley ana 2: 122. 1987. Type. Ackerman 1843, from Luquillo Mountains, Quebrada Grande, S of El Verde, 430 m elev., M u n . Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (SEL; isotypes, U P R R P and the author's collection). Phenology & Pollination. Plants bloom from October to January. Flowers are autogamous, and fruits mature soon after flowering. Taxonomic Notes. In the past, our plants were known as Elleanthus linifolius C. Presl, but L0jtnant (1976) established that this name represents a relatively rare species of Ecuador and Peru. Most plants previously known as E. linifolius are E. graminifolius (Barbosa Rodrigues) L0jtnant. Lojtnant noted that Caribbean specimens were somewhat different from the Central and South American E. graminifolius. Further study revealed the differences to be constant. No other related Elleanthus has inconspicuous basal callosities and trifid leaf tips with a middle tooth (mucro) much longer than the lateral teeth (Ackerman, 1987).

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. Greater Antilles.