|
(Last Modified On 2/7/2013)
|
|
|
|
(Last Modified On 2/7/2013)
|
|
Species
|
ONCIDIUM ENSATUM Lindl.
|
|
PlaceOfPublication
|
Bot. Reg. n. s. 5: Misc. 17. 1842.
|
|
Synonym
|
Oncidium cerebriferum Rchb. f. in Bot. Zeit. 10:696. 1852. Oncidium confusum Rchb. f. in Xenia Orch. 1:234. 1858.
|
|
Description
|
Erect, terrestrial herbs with fleshy, ovoid, somewhat compressed, usually smooth pseudobulbs 5.5-8 cm. tall and 3.5-5 cm. wide, the truncate apices with 1 to 3 leaves, the bases enveloped in 4-6 imbricating bracts the uppermost 2 or 3 of which are conspicuously foliaceous, the blades persistent, not articulated and not separating by a suture near the base. Leaves and bract blades linear-lanceolate, acuminate, subcoriaceous, 45-90 cm. long and 2-3 cm. wide, rather rigidly erect, with a strong central keel, the margins somewhat conduplicate, particularly for the lower half. Inflorescences 1 or 2 erect or arching, many-flowered panicles equaling or exceeding the leaves, produced from the lateral bases of the pseudobulbs. Flowers of moderate size, in fresh material averaging about 3 cm. in diameter when spread out. Sepals subequal, free, spreading or reflexed, greenish or brownish olive, usually with undulant margins, the dorsal sepal oblanceolate, acute, 10-12 mm. long and 4-5 mm. wide, the lateral sepals lanceolate, acuminate, 13-15 mm. long and 3.5-4 mm. wide, with a pronounced dorsal keel. Petals subequal to the dorsal sepal and similarly colored, spreading or reflexed, with undulant margins, obliquely oblanceolate, acute, 12-14 mm. long and 4-5 mm. wide. Lip panduriform, 3-lobed, bright yellow, about 1.5 cm. long and 1.5 cm. wide, abruptly contracted at the base and adnate to the base of the column, the small lateral lobes oblong, obtuse or obscurely auriculate, the anterior margins confluent with the margins of the broad central isthmus, the mid-lobe dilated, 2-lobed, transversely subreniform, the disk olive-green, with a prominent, fleshy, white, 7- toothed callus. Column short, with prominent, lateral wings.
|
|
Distribution
|
British Honduras to Panama.
|
|
Specimen
|
PANAMA: foothills east of Panama City, sea level, Powell 267; vicinity Juan Diaz, Powell 3484; in low thick scrub, along Rio Tecumen, east of Panama City, about 30 mi., Hunter & Allen 266, Allen 5159.
|
|
Note
|
A fairly common terrestrial species of the Pacific slope, often found growing in low scrub in association with Peristeria elata, or sometimes in open grassland. In herbarium specimens, the species considerably resembles Oncidium panamense, but may be distinguished readily by the narrower basal callus, the terrestrial habit, and in the complete lack of articulations near the bases of the foliaceous bracts.
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|
Project Name
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|