Cleistes vargasii (C.Schweinf.) Medley 1991 TYPE Drawing © by Schweinfurth

Common Name Vargas's Cleistes [Original Collector of type species 1900's]

Flower Size 1" [2.5 cm]

Found in Peru on open grassy slopes at elevations of 1500 to 2500 meters as a medium to large sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial with an erect, thin stem carrying towards the apex, 2 to 4, remote, strict, erect, oblong lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, basally clasping, sessile leaves that blooms on an erect, 4.4 [11 cm] long, loosely 1 to 3 flowered inflorescence carrying pink to rose red tinged with blue, smaller for the genus, 2" [5 cm] between each flower, subtended by a strict, foliaceous bract that is similar to the leaves but shorter and often broader.

Synonyms *Pogonia vargasii C.Schweinf. 1951

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list, IPNI Orchids of Peru Vol 1 Schweinfurth 1958 drawing fide;

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