Cyrtopodium punctatum

Plants epiphytic, 50–150 cm. Pseudobulbs elongate, fusiform, to 50 cm. Inflorescences erect, paniculate, to 90 cm. Flowers bright yellow with maroon and green markings, 4–5 cm wide; lip with middle lobe margins conspicuously verruculose-tuberculate, lateral lobes spotted or solid dark orange or maroon, longer than middle lobe. Capsules to 10 cm. 2n = 46.

Phenology: Flowering winter–early spring.
Habitat: Coastal mangrove swamps and cypress swamps
Elevation: 0–50[–500] m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Fla., West Indies, South America (Peru, Venezuela).

Discussion

The pseudobulbs of Cyrtopodium punctatum were used in the past as a source of glue for book binding.

Selected References

Ames, O. 1905–1922. Orchidaceae: Illustrations and Studies of the Family Orchidaceae Issuing from the Ames Botanical Laboratory…. 7 vols. Boston and New York, Vol., 1, pp. 55–58.

Hawkes, A. D. 1952. Habitat notes on Cyrtopodium punctatum. Orchid J. 1: 296–297.

Lower Taxa

None.