Oncidium ionopterum Rchb.f. 1876 SECTION Heterantha

Photo by © Guido Deburghgraeve and his Flickr Orchid Photo Website

Common Name The Violet Winged Oncidium [refers to the wings surrounding the column]

Flower Size 1/2" [1.25 cm]

Found in Peru at elevations around 3300 meters as a miniature sized, cold growing epiphyte with ovate, laterally compressed pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, lanceolate leaf that blooms in the winter on a thin, paniculate, heteranthous, twining, 16" [40 cm] long, flexuous to fractiflex, 1.6 to 3.2" between each branch, each of the 20 or so branches 1.6" [4 cm] long, several to many flowered inflorescence with 2 to 3 aborted, sterile flowers on each branch and an apical, non-fragrant flower.

Synonyms Cyrtochilum ionopterum (Rchb.f.) Kraenzl. 1917; Heteranthocidium ionopterum (Rchb.f.) Szlach. & Kolan. 2015

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Das Pflanzenreich Odontoglossum/Oncidium Kranzlin 1917 as Cyrtochilum ionopterum drawing fide; Oncidium Koniger Vol 1 Koniger 2004 photo drawing/fide; Orchid Species Culture: Oncidium/Odontoglossum alliance Bakers 2006 as Cyrtochilum ionopterum;

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