Cyrtochilum leucopterum (Rchb.f.) Dalström 2001 SUBGENUS Unguisepala

Photo by Eric Hunt

Common Name or Meaning The White Pyramid-Shaped Cyrtochilum [refers to the white callus on the lip]

Flower Size 1.4" [3.5 cm]

Found in Cundinamarca department of Colombia near Bogata' on roadbanks and forest edges in cloud forests at elevations of 3000 to 3200 meters as a large sized, cold growing terrestrial or epiphytic orchid with large, ovate, ancipitous, laterally compressed pseudobulbs partially enveloped basally by 3 pairs of distichous, imbricating, conduplicate, leaf-bearing sheaths and carrying 2, apical, erect, arching, lanceolate, acute, conduplicate below into the elongate, petiolate base leaves that blooms in the spring on an erect to arching, 51" [127.5 cm] long overall, peduncle to 31" [80 cm] long, paniculate, 20" [50 cm] long, to 7, fractiflex branched, many [60] flowered inflorescence arising on a mature pseudobulb through the leaf axil of an upper leaf-bearing sheath carrying up to 9, fragrant flowers per branch.

Synonyms *Odontoglossum leucopterum Rchb.f. 1854

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Bonplandia Rchb.f 1854 as Odontoglossum leucopterum; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 33 - 36 2057 - 2308 Brieger 1997 as Odontoglossum leucopterum; *Lindleyana Vol 16 No 2 2001; Orchid Species Culture, Oncidium/Odontoglossum Alliance Bakers 2006; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007 as Odontoglossum leucopterum photo fide; Orquideologia Vol 25 #2 2008 photo fide

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------