Showing posts with label plantaginea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plantaginea. Show all posts

Sunday, December 26, 2010

An Erythrodes sp. I am not sure which species this orchid is


This Erythrodes sp. was growing next to what I believe to be plants of Erythrodes plantaginea, but the flowers and the inflorescences are different.  You can compare both plants looking at this post:  http://ricardogupi.blogspot.com/2010/12/erythrodes-plantaginea-terrestrial.html
It is clearly not Erythrodes hirtella.  Perhaps I am not familir with the variation in flower form and inflorescesce in these species, but for all that is worth here is the photo for comparison.  Comments are welcome.

Erythrodes plantaginea, a terrestrial orchid common at high elevation forests in PR

Erythrodes plantaginea

Several Erythrodes plants blooming in El Yunque peak

This  terrestrial orchid is common in the Sierra de Luquillo forests in the parts at middle and high elevations that I have been able to visit.  It is easy to find in the roadsides and with little effort you can find many plants with inflorescences.  It doesn’t have any horticultural importance and as far as I know it is not in cultivation.  This is plant is native of Puerto Rico and can be found on other islands of the West Indies.  Because of its small white flowers that seem unremarkable at first sight this plants has not been of interest to orchidists, even among those that have visited their habitat, few are even aware they are orchids.   These plants were in bloom in February.