Maxillaria peruviana (C.Schweinf.) D.E.Benn. & Christenson 1998 sect Trigonae Christenson 2013 Photo by © Andy's orchids Website

TYPE Drawing TYPE Drawing by © Alcantara, Bennett & Christenson

Common Name The Peruvian Maxillaria

Flower Size .4" [2 cm]

Found in Pasco Peru in wet cloud forests at elevations around 2610 meters as a small sized, climbing, trailing cold growing epiphyte with a conspicuous bract covered rhizome giving rise to orbicular-ovoid, squat, compressed pseudobulbs every 1.6" [4 cm] and carrying a single, apical, elliptic, acute, coriaceous, narrowing below into the clasping base leaf that blooms in the spring on a lateral, basal, enveloped by several, conspicuous, imbricate, tubular, compressed bracts, to 2" [5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence with subsimilar, longer than the ovary floral bracts and carrying campanulate flowers.

Similar to M alpestris but it has shorter floral bracts, a distinctly 3 lobed lip with acute sinuses, the lateral lobes are subacute, and the callus is ovate with a broad longitudinal depression and a small basal tooth.

Synonyms *Maxillaria xantholeuca var. peruviana C.Schweinf. 1945; Sauvetrea peruviana (C.Schweinf.) Szlach. 2007 publ. 2006

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 510 Bennett & Christenson 1998 drawing fide; Maxillaria An Unfinished Monograph Vol 2 Christenson 2013;

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