Erythrodes plantaginea (L.) Fawc. & Rendle
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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 terrestrials. Roots 1-3, produced at each rhizome node, 1.5-3 mm diam. Stems green, succulent, glabrous, creeping, internodes 2-7 cm long, 3-8 mm diam., partially concealed by sheaths, shoots ascendent, to 50 cm tall, excluding inflorescence. Leaves green, 4-7, cauline, spirally arranged, glabrous; sheaths inflated, enclosing the stem, 1-2 cm long; petioles distinct, 1-3 cm long; blades plicate, thin, ovate-elliptic, to 14 cm long, 7.5 cm wide. Inflorescences terminal, scapose racemes erect, pubescent, many-flowered, total height to 40 cm; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, 6-14 mm long. Flowers white, resupinate, somewhat tubular, bracteate. Pedicellate ovary pubescent, cylindrical, erect, 7-9 mm long. Sepals dorsally pubescent, 1-nerved, entire, lower margin slightly involute, 6-8 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide, connivent with petals; dorsal sepal elliptic-lanceolate, acute-acuminate; lateral sepals slightly falcate elliptic-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, obtuse 6-8 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide. Petals glabrous, spatulate, oblique, obtuse, 5-7 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide. Lip glabrous, basally extended and forming a saccate nectar spur 3-5 mm long; lamina canaliculate, apically constricted, apex triangular, reflexed, 5-6 mm long. Column 3-4 mm long. Fruit sparsely pubescent, cylindrical, to 10 mm long.
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Discussion
1. Erythrodes plantaginea (Linnaeus) Fawcett & Rendle, Fl. Jamaica 1: 28. 1910. Satyrium plantagineum Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 2: 1244. 1759. Physurus plantagineus (Linnaeus) Lindley, Gen. Sp. Orchid. P L 503. 1840. Type. S h a n e s.n., from Mt. Diablo, Jamaica ( B M ) . Phenology & Pollination. Flowering occurs from November to April and mostly during the winter months. The spur of the flower is almost always filled with nectar. If the flowers selfpollinate, the mechanism is not efficient because fruit set is often low. In late spring and early summer the fruits split open
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Distribution
General Distribution. West Indies. Distribution in Puerto Rico. Known from Adjuntas, Aibonito, Arecibo, Caguas, Canovanas, Ciales, Jayuya, Luquillo, Manati, Naguabo, Orocovis, Patillas, Ponce, Rio Grande, and Villalba. Habitat. Terrestrial in understory of moist and wet montane forests at middle to high elevations (500-1200 m, rare at low elevations); common.
West Indies|