IOSPE PHOTOS

Myrmecophilia thomsoniana [Rchb.f] Rolfe 1917 SUBGENUS Chaunoschomburgkia

Photo by Dressler & Carnevali

White Flower form

Photo by Orquidario Santa Barbara Website

Photos showing Floral variations in the Caymans

Photos by Kerry Dressler, Frank Roulstone, Robert Dressler and The Real Botanical Garden Kew

Another Flower? not = M brysiana

Photo by Mark Nir and Orchidaceae Antillannae

Myrmecophilia thompsoniana [Rchb.f] Rolfe 1917 var semi-alba

Photo courtesy of Mike Mazur

Common Name Thomson's Dwarf Schomburgkia [English Plant Breeder 1800's]

Flower Size to 2 3/4" [7 cm]

Found in the Cayman Islands as a small sized, hot growing epiphyte in scrubby bushes close to the sea and exposed to full sun with curved, hollow pseudobulbs carrying a few apical, elliptic-ovate leaves that blooms in the spring and summer on an erect, to 4' [120 cm] long, sometimes branched inflorescence from which arise several to many [12 to 20] successively opening, fragrant flowers occuring over a long period.

In the Cayman Islands natives have used the dried pseudobulbs of this species to fashion pipes to smoke tobacco or ganja.

Synonyms *Bletia thomsoniana Rchb. f. 1887; Laelia thomsoniana [Rchb.f]L.O.Wms. 1941; Myrmecophila brysiana var. thomsoniana (Lem.) G.C. Kenn. 1979; Schomburgkia brysiana var. atropurpurea (Hook.f.) H.G.Jones 1963; Schomburgkia brysiana var minor [Hkr.] Jones 1966; Schomburgkia brysiana var thomsoniana [Rchb.f] Jones 1963 Schomburgkia thomsoniana Rchb.f 1877; Schomburgkia thomsoniana var minor Strachan ex Fawc. 1894; Schomburgkia thomsoniana var minor [Rchb.f] Hkr. 1902

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

Gard. Chron., ser. 3, 2: 38 Rchb.f 1887 as Schomburgkia thompsoniana

Symbolae Antillanae Vol VI:559 Orchidaceae Urban 1909;

Symbolae Antillanae Vol VI Orchidaceae Urban 1909 as S thompsonianus var alba

Symbolae Antillanae Vol VI Orchidaceae Urban 1909 as S thompsonianus var minor;

Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915 as Schomburgkia thompsoniana;

Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915 as Schomburgkia thompsoniana var minor;

* Orchid Rev. 25: 51 Rolfe 1917

Darwiniana 5: 77 L O WIlliams 1941 as Laelia thompsioniana;

AOS Bulletin Vol 28 No 5 1959 as Laelia thompsoniana;

Native Orchids of Trinidad Schultes 1960 as Laelia thompsoniana;

AOS Bulletin Vol 32 No 1:8 1963 as S brysiana var thompsoniana;