Sarcoglottis riocontensis E.C.Smidt & Toscano 2004
Photo by © Ivan Abreu
TYPE Drawing by © Pablo Ormindo and Kew Bull. 59: 569 E.C.Smidt & Toscano 2004
Common Name the Riocontans Sarcoglottis
Flower Size .2" [5 mm]
Found in Bahia state of Brazil AT. Found in dry woodlands at elevations below 800 meters as a medium sized, warm growing terrestrial with 3 to 5 fleshy, sessile or attenuate at the base, lanceolate to oblanceolate, prostrate, green, slightly discolorous, the upper surface green with discrete longitudinal silvery lines, apices acute to obtuse leaves that blooms in the winter on an erect, terminal, peduncle [20 to 25 cm] long, provided with 7 to 10, linear-lanceolate, slightly imbricate, erect, adpressedamplexicaul basally, acute apically sheathing bracts, rachis 4 to 4.8" [10 to 12 cm] long, spiciform, lax, to 18 flowered inflorescence with linear-lanceolate, acuminate, erect, curved up, somewhat longer than the ovary floral bracts and carrying flowers with whitish brown sepals, white petals and a white , strongly arched lip.
"Sarcoglottis riocontensis is characterized by the small, brownish-white flowers. The leaves are somewhat prostrate, forming a basal rosette, but have generally completely withered just before floral anthesis. In its floral dimensions and morphology it resembles Sarcoglottis ventricosa, but differs from it in having a shorter lip .08 to .1" (20 mm versus 25 mm), with a cordiform middle lobe, and by its glabrous inflorescence and its sparsely pilose flowers. Sarcoglottis ventricosa has a relatively broader lip, with a rounded middle lobe, and the inflorescence and reddish flowers are densely pilose. The floral morphology of S. riocontensis can also be compared with Sarcoglottis metallica , a species found in Venezuela, the Guianas and Brazil (Christenson 1999b; Christenson & Toscano 2000), but the latter has larger flowers, strongly curved lateral sepals, a longer and narrower lip, along with densely chocolate-spotted broader subelliptic leaves." E.C.Smidt & Toscano 2004
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
* Kew Bull. 59: 569 E.C.Smidt & Toscano 2004
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