Maxillaria obscura Linden & Rchb. f 1866 sect. Cucullatae Christenson 2013

Photo by Daniel Jimenez ©

Full ShadeCool Fall THROUGHSpring

Common Name The Obscure Maxillaria [refers to the confusion as to it's species status - often given as a synonym to M cucullata]

Flower Size 1" [2.5 cm]

Found in Costa Rica and Panama in upper montane cloud forests at elevations of 1500 to 3000 meters as a small sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with compressed, ovoid to sub-orbicular pseudobulbs enveloped basally by 1 to 2, subulate, non-foliaceous sheaths carrying a single, apical erect, narrowly elliptic, bluntly acute to obtuse and unequally bi-lobulate apically and gradually cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the fall through spring on an axillary, 2" [5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence and has a cucullate, acute floral bract

Part of the M cucculata group which includes, M meleagris; , M praestans M punctostriataand M cedralensis

Synonyms Camaridium obscurum (Linden & Rchb.f.) M.A.Blanco 2007; Maxillaria atrata var. brachyantha Rchb.f. 1866; Psittacoglossum obscurum (Linden & Rchb.f.) Szlach. & Sitko 2012

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Refugium Botanicum Reichenbach 1869 drawing fide; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915; Fieldiana, Flora Costaricensis #39 Orchidaceae Atwood & Retana 1999 as M cf obscura drawing good; Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica Vol 3 Hammel, Grayum, Herrera and Zamora 2003; Orchids of Costa Rica Vol 4 Morales 2009 as Camridium obscurum photo fide; Vanishing Beauty, Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 2 Lacaena to Pteroglossa Pupulin 2020 as Camaridium obscurum photo fide

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