Ophidion cunabulum (Luer & R. Escobar) Luer & R. Escobar 1982
Photos by © Patricia Harding
TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer
Common Name The Cradle Shaped Ophidion
Flower Size .4" [1 cm]
Found in Antioquia department of Colombia at elevations above 600 meters as a miniature sized, warm growing epiphyte with, erect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3, loose acuminate sheaths and carrying a single, apical, elliptic, acute, gradually narrows below into the channeled petiolate base leaf that blooms in the late spring on a lateral, 1.2 to 1.6" [3 to 4 cm] long, successively single, 3 to 4 flowered inflorescence arising from just above the base of the ramicaul.
"Most similar to O alphonsiana but can be distinguished by the yellow vs grey-beige, spotted vs mottled , sepals with a wider aperature, striped vs mottled petals, the obovate vs elliptic lip with spotted vs 3 linear, quasi-geometric markings and a densely entirevs cellular-papillose margin." Matthews 2018
Synonyms *Cryptophoranthus cunabulus Luer & R. Escobar 1981; Phloeophila cunabula (Luer & R. Escobar) Pridgeon & M.W. Chase 2001
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Orquideologia Vol 14 #2 Luer & Escobar 1981 as Cryptophoranthus cunabula drawing fide;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Systematics of the Pleurothallidinae Vol 1 1986
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Systematics of the Pleurothallidinae Vol 1 1986 drawing fide;
Native Colombian Orchids Vol 3 COS 1991 photo fide to Patricia;
Lindleyana Vol 16 No 4 2001 as Phloeophila cunabula;
Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 42 - 43 pg 2626 - 2762 Brieger 2001 drawing fide;
Orquideas de la Serrania del Baudo Misas Urreta 2006 drawing/photo not = O cymbula;
Pleurothallids Neotropical Jewels Vol 1 Karremans & Viera 2020 photo fide;
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