Platystele densiflora P. Ortiz 1978
Photo by © Eric Hunt
Photo by Jay Pfahl © .
TYPE Drawing by © Padre Pedro Ortiz
Common Name The Densly Flowered Platystele
Flower Size .2" [5 mm]
Found in Antioquia department of Colombia at elevations of 1600 to 1900 meters as a miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with erect, slender ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 thin, ribbed, imbricating sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erecft, coriaceous, elliptical-obovate, subacute, narrows below gradually into the cuneate, petiolate base leaf and blooms in the fall on a strict, congested, to 18" [to 45 cm] long including the 2.4 to 3.2" [6 to 8 cm] long peduncle, successively many flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract below the middle and loose, oblique, as long as the ovary floral bracts.
"The inflorescence is very densely flowered, producing a compact cylinder of many flowers at the apex of a very tall, slender raceme. The raceme remains in flower for a long period of time as the lower flowers slowly faade, those above mature. The simple sepals and petals may be either purple or yellow, while the round lip is usually red." Luer 1990
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Orquideologia Vol 12 No 2/3 1977/8 photo/drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol VII Systematics of Platystele Luer 1990 drawing/photo fide; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 3 COS 1991 photo ok; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 4 Dodson 2003; Orquideologia Vol 25 #2 2008 photo fide; Orquideologia Vol 27 #1 2010 as P densiflora var xanthina photo fide; Orquideologia Vol 28 #2 2011 photo fide; A Compendium Of Miniature Orchid Species Vol 2 Parsons & Gerritson 2013 photo fide;
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