Cranichis elliptica Schltr. 1921 TYPE Drawing by © Dodson and Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 1 Dodson & Escobar 1993

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

Common Name or Meaning The Elliptic Cranichis

Flower Size .28" [7 mm]

Found in Ecuador at elevations around 2500 to 3150 meters as a medium sized, cold growing terrestrial with 1 or 2, basal, elliptic to obovate-elliptic, acute to abruptly acuminate, basally more or less round into the channeled, petiolate base leaves that blooms in the summer through fall on a terminal, erect, peduncle remotely several sheathed, glabrous below, slightly pubescent above, to 14.8" [to 37 cm] long, rachis to 5.2" [to 13 cm] long, densely glandular pubescent, cylindrical, densely many flowered inflorescence with ovate-lanceoalte, acuminate, shorter than the ovary floral bracts. and carrying pale brownish to deep chestnut in color flowers with a white lip with brownish green to deep brown, almost black, reticulate venation.

Distinguished by the non-foliaceous peduncle, the green leaves, the ciliate margins of the petals, the glandular-pubescent ovary, and the auriculate base of the column.

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 47: 76 1929 drawing fide; Flora Brasilica Vol XII II 13-43 Hoehne 1945; Flora of Ecuador No 9 225[1] Garay 1978; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 1 Dodson & Escobar 1993 drawing fide Flora Of Ecuador # 76 225[2] Dodson & Luer 2005;

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