Leochilus crocodiliceps (Rchb. f.) Kraenzl. 1922

Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl

What was known as L ampliflorus

Photo by Weyman Bussey

Common Name The Crocodile Head Leochilus

Flower Size 1" [2.2 cm]

Found in Jalisco and Colima states of Mexico on twigs high in the canopy of natural forests or on guava trees in plantations as a miniature sized, cool to warm growing epiphytic species with light green, ovate, slightly laterally compressed, ridged and sulcate with age pseudobulbs enveloped basally by a few leafless and leafed sheaths and carrying 1 to 2, apical, elliptic-lanceolate leaves that blooms in the spring on a pendant, several flowered inflorescence arising from the base of a mature pseudobulb carrying 1 to 6 small, fragrant [not great] flowers.

Notice that the anther cap at the apex of the column appears to be a crocodile hence the name.

Synonyms Leochilus ampliflorus Schltr. 1925; Oncidium crocodiliceps Rchb. f. 1885

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Das Pflanzanreich Regni Vegetabilis Conspectus Odontoglossum/Oncidium Kranzlin 1922 drawing good; AOS Bulletin Vol 39 No 1 1970 photo; Flora Novo-Galaciana Vol 16 McVaugh 1985; An Introdution to the Orchids of Mexico Wiard 1987 photo as L ampliflorus; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 33 - 36 2057 - 2308 Brieger 1997; The Pictoral Encyclopedia of Oncidium Zelenko 2005 as L ampliflorum; Orchid Species Culture: Oncidium, Bakers 2006 as L amplioflorum; Orchid Species Culture: Oncidium, Bakers 2006

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