Dichaea panamensis Lindl.

  • Family

    Orchidaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Dichaea panamensis Lindl.

  • Primary Citation

    Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. (Lindley) 209. 1833

  • Description

    Author: Catherine V. Bainbridge

    Description: Epiphytic herbs, to ca. 25 cm, with an erect or pendulous habit. Pseudobulbs lacking, stems slender and sometimes branching. Leaves smooth, distichous, elliptic to elongate, 2-4 x 0.2-0.4 cm, the apex apiculate. Inflorescence a solitary, axillary flower, produced beneath the leaves, semi-translucent rose pink with purple spots throughout; dorsal sepal elliptic-ligulate to obovate, ca. 7.5 x 2 mm, the apex acute; lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal, but lightly keeled upward and spreading; lateral petals similar to sepals; lip tri-lobed, ancoriform, the base unguiculate, ca. 7.5 x ca. 6 mm (across the lateral lobes); column straight, green, the ligule beneath the stigmal cavity present but simple, the anther cap magenta to dark purple; pollinia 4 (2 large, 2 small, these being superimposed), claviform, +/- compressed, boney, vicidium, stipe and caudicles present; ovary and fruit smooth.

    Common names: Not recorded.

    Distribution: Mexico to Venezuela, and Brazil from sea level to 1100 m.

    Ecology: In moist to wet forests.

    Phenology: Flowers have been observed for all months.

    Pollination: According to Dressler (1981), observations have been made of pollination involving Euglossine bees in the genus Dichaea. Roubik & Hanson (2004) cite Euglossa allosticta, E. despecta, E. dissimula, E. dressleri, E. heterosticta, E. mixta, E. tridentata and E. variabilis as responsible for pollination in Dichea panamensis.

    Dispersal: Wind dispersed.

    Taxonomic notes: A few distinctive characters exist in the genus Dichaea, which allow us to more easily distinguish between species. The first of these being whether or not the ovary and fruit are smooth or bristly. The second is the presence and form of a minute ligule, which when present, can be seen protruding from below the stigmal cavity.

    Conservation: CITES Appendix II - Trade controlled to avoid use incompatible with species survival. (UNEP WCMC 2003. Checkl. CITES Sp. 1-339).

    Uses: Not recorded.

    Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the country where the type specimen was collected.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Dichaea panamensis Lindl.: [Article] Schweinfurth, Charles. 1967. Orchidaceae of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 14: 69-214.