Neokoehleria delcastilloi D.E.Benn. & Christenson 1998

TYPE Drawing by © Pastorelli, Bennett & Christenson

Common Name or Meaning Delcastillo's Neokoehleria [Peruvian Orchid Collector currrent]

Flower Size .2" [5 mm]

Found in the department of Junin Peru in tropical montane forests at elevations around 1600 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with ovoid-pyriform, lightly compressed, sulcate, ridges obtuse-angled, medium green pseudobulbs enveloped basally by a few scarious, imbricating sheaths and carrying a single, apical, lanceolate, attenuate, acute, conduplicate basally into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the winter on an axillary, racemose, peduncle terete, erect, woody, purple, with 3 to 4 lanceolate, acuminate, concave, distant pale purple bracts, to 2" [5 cm] long overall, rachis fractiflex, 5 to 6 flowered inflorescence with an apical subsequent, successively flowering lateral branch with 3 flowers. The flowers are tubular with white sepals, the dorsal with 3 purple veins, the dorsal surface purple, the lateral sepals with the apex dark purple the petals are white with na broad purple band in the center, the lip is white with a bit of golden yellow towards the tips of the appendages, the colum white dosally and very pale greenish ventrally and the anther is white with a purplish viscidium and golden yellow pollina.

Synonyms Comparettia oliverosii (Königer) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams 2010; Scelochilus oliverosii Königer 2008

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Icones Orchidaceaerum Peruviarum Plate 519 Bennett & christenson 1998 drawing fide; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 44-45 pg 2763 - 2898 Brieger 2001; LANKESTERIANA 14(1) 2014

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