Prosthechea magnispatha [Ames, Hubbard, & Schweinf.] Higgins 1997
Photo by © John Varigos and His Orchid webpage
Photo courtesy of Weyman Bussey
to
Common Name The Large Sheathed Prosthechea
Flower Size 2" [5 cm]
Endemic to Guerrero and Oaxaca states of Mexico in wet montane oak and mixed forests at elevations of 800 to 1800 meters as a medium sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with clustered, strongly flattened pseudobulbs carrying 2 to3, apical, that blooms in the fall and winter on an apical, simple, 4 3/4" to 12 " [12 to 30 cm] long, 4 to 7 flowered inflorescence arising through a large basal spathe.
It is similar to P. boothiana except that the plant is larger and the flowers are at least twice as large in all parts, has blunter perianth segments, differently shaped petals and the midlobe of the lip is not emarginate.
Synonyms Encyclia magnispatha (Ames, F.T. Hubb. & C. Schweinf.) Dressler 1961; *Epidendrum magnispathum Ames, F.T. Hubb. & C. Schweinf. 1934; Pseudencyclia magnispatha (Ames, F.T.Hubb. & C.Schweinf.) V.P.Castro & Chiron, Richardiana 4: 33 (2003
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Bot. Mus. Leafl. 3: 10 Ames, F.T.Hubb. & C.Schweinf. 1934 as Epidendrum magnispathum;
The Genus Epidendrum Ames 1936 as Epidendrum magnispathum;
Brittonia 13: 265 Dressler 1961 as Encyclia magnispatha;
*Phytologia 82: 379 W E Higgins 1997 publ. 1998;
Richardiana 4: 33 V.P.Castro & Chiron 2003 as Pseudencylia magnispatha;
The Cattleya and Their Relatives Vol 7 The Debateable Epidendrum Withner & Harding 2004 photo fide;
Algunas Orquideas de Oaxaca Suarez 2004 photo fide;
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