Native to Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, and Ecuador.
Edited 18 May 2007
© Nina Rach
Original publication: Bot. Notiser 129: 447, 1977.
This is a small-growing epiphytic species, 25-30 cm tall, forming neat clumps. The terminal inflorescence is comprised of 9-13 imbricated, distichous bracts encasing tiny white flowers; the total vertical spread is less than 3 cm and about 2 cm horizontally. Flowers may have a green throat.
Photo at left by Alexander Reynolds, UC Davis.
In Venezuela, it has been found at 1,200-1,250 m elevation, growing in four regional areas: (1) the Andes including the foothils and the "Sierra de Perija," (2) the coastal region from the state of Zulia to the "Golfo de Paria," (3) the states of Amazonas and Apure; and (4) the state of Bolivar (Romero and Carnevali 2000). [Photo at right, by Nina Rach, was taken just SE of Guatopo National Park, coastal region, March 2001.]
In Costa Rica, plants have been collected from sea level to 1,200 m, in the Cordillera de Talamanca, Cordillera Central, Cordillera de Guanacaste, and Llanura de Tortuguero.
In French Guiana, this species has been found growing in lowland tropical rainforest. Plants were observed flowering in August, September, and December.
In Ecuador, it has been found in the coastal area: Awa Reserve, Palenque River, Jauneche, Machalilla, Churute, Guayaquil Botanical Garden, Cerro Blanco and Capeira.
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The Genus Elleanthus
Robert L. Dressler (1993) Field Guide to the Orchids of Costa Rica and Panama, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, p. 301.
G.C.K. Dunsterville and Leslie A. Garay (1979), Orchids of Venezuela: An Illustrated Field Guide. Allston, Massachusetts: Harvard University Printing Office, 3 white volumes in black slipcase; p.184. (line drawing #242 by GCKD from 11/54)
Gustavo Romero and German Carnevali (2000), Orchids of Venezuela: An Illustrated Field Guide, Second Edition. Caracas: Armitano Editores, 3 gray volumes in purple slipcase; p.182. (same line drawing as above)
Herbarium specimen list for Costa Rica, MOBOT, collected 1987-1994.
Hermbarium specimen list for French Guiana, New York Botanical Garden, collected 1976-1994.
Checklist of the Orchids of Rara Avis
Listed for Ecuador: (1)
and (2) and (3).
