Maxillaria geckophora D.E.Benn. & Christenson 2001 sect. Urceolatae Christenson 2013

TYPE Drawing by © Alcantara, Bennett & Christenson

Common Name The Gecko Shaped Anther Maxillaria [Refers to the Anther that resembles a gecko's head]

Flower Size .4" [1 cm]

Found in Junin department of Peru in the lower levels of cloud forests at elevations around 1350 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing terrestrial with fusiform, sulcate pseudobulbs subtended by clasping scarious bracts and carrying a single, apical, semiterete, needle-like leaf that blooms in the winter on shorter than the pseudobulbs, to .6" [1.5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, acuminate, slighly shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying campanulate flowers with semi-glossy red brown tepals, a shiny dark red lip witha pale transluscent rose apex, a pale amber yellow, tinted reddish brown column and a reddish brown anther.

Very similar to M nardoides but M geckophora differs in the single apical leaf, thicker semiterete leaves, a microscopically fimbriate lip and anthers that resemble gecko heads with bulging eyes.

Synonyms Christensonella geckophora (D.E.Benn. & Christenson) Szlach. & Sitko 2012

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 694 Bennett & Christenson 2001 Drawing fide; LANKESTERIANA 14(1) 2014 herbarium specimen;

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