Ionopsis utricularioides (Sw.) Lindl.

  • 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

    Ionopsis utricularioides (Sw.) Lindl.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants small, caespitose, twig epiphytes. Roots numerous, slender, 0.5-1 mm diam. Stems erect or ascending, inconspicuously pseudobulbous, cylindrical, 4-15 mm long, generally hidden by leaf sheaths. Leaves 1-4, apical and lateral, thick, fleshy, narrowly oblong, 4-25 cm long, 3-18 mm wide. Inflorescences lateral, to 80 cm long, racemose in small plants, paniculates in larger plants, few- to many-flowered, peduncles mostly naked, to 55 cm long; pedunculate bracts few, distant, scarious; floral bracts 1-2 mm long. Flowers pale pink to rose or violet, resupinate. Pedicellate ovary filiform, 5-11 mm long. Sepals and petals connivent and parallel with the column. Sepals oblong to ovatelanceolate, acute, 3-5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide; lateral sepals basally united, gibbous, forming a short spurlike mentum with the column foot. Petals broadly oblong, obtuse, 4-6 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide. Lip simple, claw with paired oblong callosities and pubescent above; lamina pubescent at junction with claw, obovate, deeply notched, 7-12 mm long, 8-15 mm wide. Column short, stout, broadest at stigma, 1.5-2 mm long; pollinia yellow, globose. Fruits cylindrical, 1.5-2 cm long, beak 3-6 mm long. Chromosomes: 2n = 46.

  • Discussion

    1. Ionopsis utricularioides (Swartz) Lindley, Coll. Bot. t. 39A. 1826. Epidendrum utricularioides Swartz, Nov. Gen. Sp. PL Prodr. 122. 1788. Type. Swartz s.n., from Jamaica (S, not seen; B M). Phenology & Pollination. Most plants flower from March to June and disperse their seeds during the summer months. The self-compatible flowers offer no nectar reward, so pollinator attraction is by deceit. Consequently, pollinators do not visit many flowers. Sexual reproduction, though, is limited by both resource constraints and pollinator visits (Montalvo & Ackerman, 1987). Pollinators are unknown.

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. Central America, Florida (U.S.A.), Galapagos Islands, Mexico, tropical South America, and West Indies.

    Central America| United States of America North America| Ecuador South America| Mexico North America| Virgin Islands South America| Puerto Rico South America| South America|