Zootrophion gracilentum (Rchb.f.) Luer 1982 Photo by © Karremans and The Epidendra Website

In situ Costa Rica Photo by Lourens Grobler ©

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Common Name The Small, Slender Zootrophion [refers to the size of the plant]

Flower Size .2 to .24" [5 to 6 mm]

Found from Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama at elevations of 700 to 1200 meters as a miniature to small sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with stout, erect, ramicauls enveloped by 4 to 5, loose, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, more or less purple suffused beneath, elliptical, obtuse to rounded apically, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the late spring and summer on a .2 to .4" [.5 to 1 cm] long, single to 4, simultaneously flowered inflorescence arising through an annulus from near the apex of the ramicaul amd has oblique acute, inflated floral bracts

Zoo hypodiscus is said to be synomonous with this name but I have left them separate at this time awaiting more information, As can be seen, both species photos are quite different.

Synonyms Cryptophoranthus gracilentus (Rchb.f.) Rolfe 1887; *Masdevallia gracilenta Rchb.f. 1875

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915 as Cryptophoranthus gracilentus; Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica Vol 3 Hammel, Grayum, Herrera and Zamora 2003; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVI Luer 2004 drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 88 #9 2019 photo fide;

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