Maxillaria exaltata (Kraenzl.) C.Schweinf. 1945 sect. Strictae Christenson 2011

Photos by © Eric Hunt

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Common Name The Exagerated Maxillaria

Flower Size

Found in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in cloud forests at elevations of 650 to 1500 meters as a giant sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with a straggly, upright to decumbent cane enveloped by rugose sheaths and carrying subcoriaceous, linear-lanceolate, acute leaves that blooms in the spring and summer on several per axil, 2" [5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence concealed by bracts and subtended by an inflated, floral bract.

This species is part of the M meridensis complex characterized by the erect, basally swollen stems enveloped by rugose sheaths but differs in the larger plant size and the nearly orbicular midlobe of the lip. Generally occurs at lower elevations than M meridensis.

Synonyms Adamanthus exaltatus (Kraenzl.) Szlach. 2007 publ. 2006; Calawaya exaltata (Kraenzl.) J.Freitas & Lírio 2014; *Camaridium exaltatum Kraenzl. 1906

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The Orchids of Panama L.O. Williams & P Allen 1946; Orchids of Peru Vol 3 Schweinfurth 1960; Fieldiana Biology, Flora Costa Ricensis Family # 39 Orchidaceae, subtribes Maxillariinae and Oncidiinae Atwood & Mora 1999 drawing good; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 3 Dodson 2002 photo fide; Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica Vol 3 Hammel, Grayum, Herrera and Zamora 2003; Orchids of Costa Rica Vol 4 Morales 2009 photo ok; Vanishing Beauty, Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 2 Lacaena to Pteroglossa Pupulin 2020 photo fide

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