Cyrtochilum rigidum (Lindl.) Dalström 2013 SECTION Aureium

Photo by Stig Dalström

Common Name The Rigid Cyrtochilum

Flower Size 3/4" [2 cm]

Found in Ecuador on steep embankments at elevations of 2500 to 4000 meters as a small sized, cold growing epiphyte or terrestrial that is found in with ovate or pyriform pseudobulbs carrying a single apical, erect, linear-ligulate, acute, carinate leaf and blooms at most any time of the year on a paniculate, 8" [20 cm] long, loosely branched towards the apex inflorescence arising on a mature pseudobulb.

This species is related to the bicolored C aureum but differs in the lack of a crown like callus at the base of the lip and the darker yellow orange color of the flower. C mystacinum has several short basal fingers and C cochleatum has 3 short basal fingers.

Synonyms *Odontoglossum rigidum Lindley 1844; Oncidium rigidum (Lindl.) Beer 1854;

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Xenia Orchidaceae Vol 3 Reichenbach 1878 as Odontoglossum rigidum; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 965 Dodson 1984 as Odontoglossum rigidum drawing fide; Orchids[AOS] Vol 82, Pg 118 Dalstrom 2013 photos fide; Orquideas de Zamora Chinchipe Tomo 1 Epidendroideae I Jimenenz 2014 photo fide; Lankesteriana 20(1). Dalstrom & Trujillo 2020

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------