Microchilus siberianus (Ormerod) E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021

Drawing of Stephanothelys siberiana by © Paul Ormwrod and Harvard Pap. Bot. 9: 42 fig 40 Ormerod 2005

Partial shade Cool Cold Summer

Common Name The Microchilus

Flower Size .12" [3 mm]

Found in Cochabamba department of Bolivia in rich humus in cloud forests at elevations around 2000 meters as a medium sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial with an erect, terete stem carrying 4, gathered in the apical half of the stem, obliquely ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute petiolate base leaves that blooms in the summer on an erect, terminal, 4.24" [10.6 cm] long peduncle to 2.76" [6.9 cm] long,provided with 2, scattered sheathing bracts, rachis to 1.48" [3.7 cm] long, laxly and perhaps secundly 4 to 5 flowered inflorescence with ovate subacuminate, shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying glabrous, white flowers.

"This species differs from the Bolivian Microchilus rariflorus in its stem with approximate leaves, glabrous flowers, shorter and thicker spur, and column with lateral winglets. In M. rariflora, the leaves are remote, the flowers are sparsely pubescent, the spur is longer .04" (by 1 mm) and more slender, and the column lacks winglets." Ormerod 2005

Synonyms Aspidogyne siberiana (Ormerod) Ormerod 2007; Stephanothelys siberiana Ormerod 2005

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

Harvard Pap. Bot. 9: 422 Ormerod 2005 as Stephanothelys siberiana

Harvard Pap. Bot. 9: 42 fig 40 Ormerod 2005 as Stephanothelys siberiana drawing fide

Harvard Pap. Bot. 11: 150 Ormerod 2007 as Aspidogyne siberiana

* Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 197: 343 E.C.Smidt & M.W.Chase 2021

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