Microchilus malmei (Kraenzl.) E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021

Drawing of Physurus malmei by © Kraenzlin and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website

Common Name Malme's Microchilus [Swedish Botanist late 1800's early 1900's]

Flower Size .2" [5 mm]

Found in Rio Grande do Sul state of Brazil and Argentina in dense forests at elevations of 100 to 400 meters as a cool growing terrestrial with more or less 9, oblong-lanceolate, acute to acuminate petiolate base leaves that blooms on a short, somewhat shorter than the last leaf, farinose-pilose, to 15 flowered inflorescence with as long as the flower floral bracts and carrying externally pubescent flowers.

Similar to Microchilus foliosus (Poepp. & Endl.) D.Dietr. 1852 but M malmei is distinguished by the entire lip apex versus trilobed in M foliosus. Then lip shape is also similar to Microchilus schlechterianus but it has larger leaves and pubescent sepals. Microchilus hylibates (Rchb.f.) E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021 is also similar but it also has larger leaves and a different lip.

Synonyms Aspidogyne malmei (Kraenzl.) Garay 1977, Erythrodes malmei (Kraenzl.) Pabst 1957; *Physurus malmei Kraenzl. 1911

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl., n.f., 46(10): 41 Kraenzlin 1911 as Physurus malmei

Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 35: 43 Schlechter 1925 as Physurus malmei;

Flora Brasilica Vol XII II 13-43: 347 Hoehne 1945 as Physurus malmei

Flora Brasilica Vol XII II 13-43: tab 185 fig 2 Hoehne 1945 Physurus malmei drawing fide;

Orquídea (Rio de Janeiro) 18: 215 Pabst 1957 as Erythrodes malmei

Bradea 2: 202 Garay 1977 as Aspidogyne malmei

Lankesteriana 19(3): 218 2019 as Physurus malmei drawing fide;

* Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 197: 341 E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021

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