Bletia patula

Plants to 100 cm. Roots numerous, 1.5–3 mm diam. Stems pseudobulbs, ovoid to subglobose, 2–5 cm diam. Leaves: blade narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate, 25–75 × 1.5–4 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescences 39–118 cm; floral bracts ovate-triangular to lanceolate, 1–3 mm, apex acute to acuminate. Flowers 5–22, pink to rosy purple, rarely entirely white; dorsal sepal elliptic-oblanceolate, 30–40 × 6–8 mm, apex acute to acuminate; lateral sepals similar but falcate; petals erect, oblong-elliptic, 30–35 × 5–6 mm, thinner than sepals, apex obtuse; lip adnate to base of column, clawed, 3-lobed, 30–35 × 27–31 mm, middle lobe subquadrangular, flabellate, emarginate, margins crispate-undulate, lateral lobes erect, flanking column, rounded to subquadrangular, broadest distally; disc lamellae 5, middle 3 white; column clavate, 23–25 mm, column foot absent; pedicellate ovary slender, 20–35 mm. Capsules pendulous, 3–4.5 cm × 8–10 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–May.
Habitat: Pinelands
Elevation: 0–20 m

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Bletia patula was originally collected from Miami-Dade County, Florida, in 1947. The locality has since become part of the greater Miami area (C. A. Luer 1972), and the persistence of the populations is doubtful.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa