Trichopilia boliviensis Klikunas & Christenson 2004
Photo by © Pupulin and The Epidendra Orchid Website
Drawing by © Vasquez and Dodson and The Epidendra Orchid Website
Common Name The Bolivian Trichopilia
Flower Size 1.28 to 3.6" [3.2 to 9 cm]
Found in Cochabamba Bolivia as a miniature to small sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with ellipsoid, strongly compressed, ancipitous pseduobulbs carrying a single, lanceolate, conduplicate below into the abruptly petiolate base leaf that blooms in the fall on a horizontal, arching-subpendent, to 4.7" [12 cm] long, racemose 1 to 4 flowered inflorescence with tubular, papery, acute, much shorter than the ovariy floral bracts.
Similar to T laxa but this one has larger flowers, falcate petals and lateral sepals, an unlobed lip that is not pandurate and a longer callus that extends to the lip base. This species and T fragrans share the trait of having lips that do not cover or obscure the top of the column.
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Plantarum tropicarum Plate 388 Dodson 1989 as T fragrans not drawing fide; *Orchid Digest 68(1): 14. 2004 drawing
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