Cyrtochilum melanthes (Rchb.f. & Warsz.) Kraenzl. 1917 SECTION Myanthium Lindley NO PHOTO

Common Name or Meaning The Black Flowered Cyrtochilum

Flower Size .4" [1 cm]

Found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru at elevations around 2000 to 3300 meters as a small sized, cold growing epiphyte or terrestrial with caespitose to slightly creeping, bracteate, terete rhizome giving rise to ovoid to elliptic pseudobulbs enveloped basally by 5 to 8 distichous sheaths with the uppermost leaf-bearing and carrying 1 to 2, apical, erect, obovate to elliptic, acute, articulate, conduplicate into the base leaves that blooms in the summer and fall on an axillary, erect to subarching, [16 to 18.2" [40 to 46 cm] long overall, loosely fractiflex, paniculate to straight, with 2 to 3, 2 to 6" [5 to 15 cm] long side branches, each 2 to 6 flowered, 12 to 18 flowered inflorescence carrying wide open flowers

PERS COMM Stig Dalstrom thinks that this specices may be a synonym of another species which one of Ruiz & Pavon's illustators labeled Maxillaria ligulata but Ruiz & Pavon may or may not have described. As of yet no decision has been made as to what this species actually is.

Synonyms Cyrtochilum prasinum (Linden & Rchb.f.) Dalström 2001; Cyrtochilum pullulans Kraenzl. 1922; Dasyglossum melanthes (Rchb.f. & Warsz.) Königer & Schildh. 1994; Dasyglossum prasinum (Linden & Rchb.f.) Königer & Schildh. 1994; Dasyglossum pseudomelanthes (D.E.Benn. & Christenson) Königer 2010; Irenea melanthes (Rchb.f. & Warsz.) Szlach., Mytnik, Górniak & Romowicz 2006; *Odontoglossum melanthes Rchb.f. & Warsz. 1854; Odontoglossum prasinum Linden & Rchb.f. 1870; Odontoglossum pseudomelanthes D.E.Benn. & Christenson 2001; Oncidium pseudomelanthes (D.E.Benn. & Christenson) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams 2008;Trigonochilum melanthes (Rchb.f. & Warsz.) Senghas 2003; Trigonochilum prasinum (Linden & Rchb.f.) Senghas 2003; Trigonochilum pseudomelanthes (D.E.Benn. & Christenson) Senghas 2003