Scaphosepalum viviparum Luer 1978 SECTION Leiocaulium Luer 1988

TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer and the The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website

Common Name or Meaning The Live Bearing Scaphosepalum [refers to the fact that the inflorescence can develop keikis]

Flower Size .12" [3 mm]

Found in Veraguas department of Panama in cloud forests at elevations around 900 meters as a mini-miniature sized, warm growing epiphyte with an erect to suberect, slender ramicaul enveloped by 2 to 3, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, subacute, cuneate below into the slender, petiolate base leaf that blooms in the winter on a ascending to horizontal to descending, slender, smooth, 6.4" [16 cm] long, loose, successively single, several flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with oblique floral bracts.

The inflorescence of this epiphytic orchid can irregularily branch and can also grow plantlets if left intact. This is a trait unique in the genus.

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol V Systematics of Dresslerella and Scaphosepalum Luer 1988 drawing fide;

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