Codonorchis lessonii (Brongn.) Lindl.

Plants of Chile
No.2554	Orchidaceae
Codonorchis lessonii (D'Urv.) Lindl.
I si a Navarino, Puerto Williams. Just off road
leading from port to waterfall, about 2 kms.
from port, alt. ca. 200m.
Herb in elfin Nothofagus forest in very clamp
grassy area in rieti leaf mould. Ht. ca. 18
cm. 1 sepal only. FIs. strongly scented,
petals white ca. 2 cm. Jong. Outer 3 petals
extended. Inner three petals white with
purple dot markings, two of these the same
shape with the markings near their base
inside and central. One more larger dot near
their tip on outer side. Lower of three
central petals with purple stripe on inner
side, central portion of petal at edge.
Stigmatic protrusion all along centre inner
side of lower inner petals, tips green;
protrusions outside of where purple stripes
finish, not green, but white. This lower
central petal narrowing abruptly at base of
stigmatic area, hinged, on to stiffer, narrow
white section. Directly above this petal and
within the other petals, narrow, stiff, thick
tube broadening in centre and incurved,
narrow at tip, containing poll ini a or
detachable anthers which stick to pencil when
touched firmly. This whole organ white with
distinct green colouration of basal central
area, one purple faint stripe on inner side
of central broadened areas. Poll ini a light
yellow. Stem semi-succulent. Lvs. darkish
green, smooth. Root ca. 5 cm. long, white,
fleshy with swollen corm or bulbuous area,
locally common. Appears it would make a good
bulb garden or alpine garden plant. Spiders
(living) and dead flies found within
(coevolution?)
Gail L. Sobel and Jeremy Strudwick
9th December 1980.
Fieldwork supported in part by the W.F. Dreer
Award, Cornell University, to Gail L. Sobel
04027276