Stenorrhynchos speciosum (Jacq.) Rich.

  • 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

    Stenorrhynchos speciosum (Jacq.) Rich.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants glabrous (except the roots, lip, and column) terrestrials, 1-6 dm tall. Roots fasciculate, fleshy, villous. Leaves basal, 4-7, short-petiolate, oblong-elliptic to ovate or obovate, acute or acuminate, persistent at time of flowering, 4-32 cm long, 1-8 cm wide. Inflorescences terminal, erect, stout; peduncle mostly concealed by sheathing bracts; raceme densely many-flowered; rachis 4-12 cm long; floral bracts longer than flowers. Flowers and bracts mostly pink, scarlet to reddish purple, resupinate. Sepals and petals connivent, apices spreading. Dorsal sepal oblong to lanceolate, subacuminate, concave, 12-15 mm long, 2.5-4 mm wide; lateral sepals oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 12-20 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, decurrent on ovary forming an inconspicuous mentum at the base. Petals adnate to the dorsal sepal, linear, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 12-15 mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm wide. Lip often white, basally pandurate and apically lanceolate and recurved, 12-21 mm long, 4.5-5 mm wide; disc pubescent. Column terete, ca. 11 mm long, pubescent below the stigma; stigma horizontal to the column axis; rostellum rigid, bristle-like; anther 5-6 mm long. Fruits ellipsoidal.

  • Discussion

    2. Stenorrhynchos speciosum (Jacquin) Richard ex Sprengel, M e m . Mus. Hist. Nat. 4: 59. 1818. Neottia speciosa Jacquin, Icon. PL Rar. 3: 16, t. 600. 1790. Spiranthes speciosa (Jacquin) A. Richard in Sagra, Hist. Fis. Cuba, Bot. 11: 252. 1850. Type. Original Jacquin collection not seen; reproduction: loc. cit.

    Phenology & Pollination. In Jamaica. S. speciosum blooms from October to February. The flowers are probably pollinated by hummingbirds. Illustrations. Foldats, 1969; Rodriguez Caballero et al., 1986.

    however, I have not been able to verify this report. All other collections attributed to this species that I have seen have been misdetermined Stenorrhynchos lanceolatum.

    Habitat. Terrestrial in moist regions at low elevations (ca. 100-400 m); very rare.

  • Distribution

    Central America, Greater Antilles, Mexico, and northern South America. Distribution in Puerto Rico. Sintenis collected this species in western Puerto Rico (Cogniaux & Urban, 1903) between Lares and Guajataca (Isabela).

    México Mexico North America| México Mexico North America| South America| Puerto Rico South America|