Ionopsis satyrioides (Sw.) Rchb.f.

  • 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 satyrioides (Sw.) Rchb.f.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants small, caespitose, twig epiphytes. Roots numerous, slender, 0.25-0.5 mm diam. Stems short, terete, inconspicuous, 3-10 mm long. Leaves 2-7, distichous, apical and lateral, coriaceous, nearly terete, aciculate, 3-15 cm long, though usually much less in our plants, 2-5 mm wide. Inflorescences lateral, slender, sparsely bracteate, sometimes branched in robust plants, 2-12 cm long, including the peduncle, few- to many-flowered; floral bracts 1-2 mm long. Flowers white with a yellow throat, fragrant, resupinate. Pedicellate ovary filiform, 5-11 mm long. Sepals connate at their bases; dorsal sepal triangular-ovate, acuminate, 5-8 mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm wide; lateral sepals lanceolate, obtuse, 5-8 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide. Petals oblong-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, reflexed, sometimes with conspicuous purple veins, 5-8 mm long, to 3 mm wide. Lip sometimes purple-veined, attached to the short column foot; callus fleshy, basal, bifurcate; lamina cuneate-flabellate, truncate, to 9 mm long. Column short, straight; pollinia attached to a white, linear stipe. Fruits cylindrical, beakless, 1.5 cm long.

  • Discussion

    2. Ionopsis satyrioides (Swartz) Reichenbach f., Ann. Bot. Syst. 6: 683. 1863. Epidendrum satyrioides Swartz, Nov. Gen. Sp. PL Prodr. 123. 1788. Type. Swartz s.n., from Jamaica (S, not seen; B M ). Ionopsis teres Lindley, Edward's Bot. Reg. 24: Misc. 95. 1838. Type. Schomburgk s.n., from Demerara, Guyana (K-L). Phenology & Pollination. Flowering occurs from February to June. The flowers are fragrant and require pollinator visits to produce fruit. Pollinators are unknown.

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. Greater Antilles, Martinique, Panama, and northern South America.

    Martinique South America| Panama Central America| Brazil South America| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America|