Bipinnula polysyka Kraenzl. 1887 Photo by © Alejandro Taborda

Common Name

Flower Size 2" [5 cm]

Found in Uruguay and the Buenas Aires area of Argentina in upland grasslands as a very rare, small sized, cold growing terrestrial with underground tubers and deciduous, 1 1/2" long, acute leaves held in a basal rosette that fall just before the spring blooming on an erect, 10" [25 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence enveloped by cauline bracts. The leaves reappear in the fall in a basal rosette as the temperatures decrease and are only found in undisturbed grasslands and are very endangered because of habitat loss.

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Flora Brasilica Vol XII I Hoehne 1940 drawing fide; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1982 genus only; 100 Orquideas Argentinas Freuler 2005 photo fide;

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