Orchidaceae

Cochleanthes amazonica (Rchb.f. & Warsz.) R.E.Schult. & Garay

Representative Image
Representative image.

Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Species Parent: Cochleanthes Status: Valid

Morphological Description

Diagnosis: Caespitose epiphytes producing fan-shaped growths. Leaves 5--7, linear-oblanceolate, acute, to 25 x 2.5 cm. Inflorescences laxly pendent scapes to 11 cm long. Flowers solitary, white, the lip longitudinally striped with violet. Dorsal sepal ovate, acuminate, reflexed at the apex, to 2.8 x 1.2 cm, the lateral sepals lanceolate, acuminate, with involute margins, reflexed-arching, to 3.2 x 1.3 cm. Petals lanceolate, acute, reflexed at the apex, to 3 x 1.2 cm. Lip unlobed, broadly elliptic, tubular at the base, to 4.5 x 3 cm, the callus transverse, shield-shaped, ridged, stalked. Column straight, to 2 cm long.

MADRE DE DIOS: Prov. Tambopata, Cuzco Amazónico Tourist Lodge, Puerto Maldanado, 200 m, Nuñez 10496 (CUZ, MO)

Other

Notes: Sterile specimens may be easily mistaken for related genera such as Chaubardia. A plant, not in flower, was seen just east of Quillabamba (Dept. Cusco, +/- 800 m) and is tentatively identified as this species.