Ponthieva ventricosa (Griseb.) Fawc. & Rendle

  • Authority

    Ackerman, James D. 1995. An orchid flora of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 73: 1-203.

  • Family

    Orchidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ponthieva ventricosa (Griseb.) Fawc. & Rendle

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants terrestrials, 15-45 cm tall, glabrous below and pubescent above. Roots fasciculate, fleshy, densely villous, 2-3 mm diam. Leaves pale green, basal, 3-6, sessile or short petiolate; blades elliptic to obovate, 2-8 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide. Inflorescences terminal, erect; scape slender, glabrous below, pubescent above, bracteate, to 25 cm long; raceme pubescent, 3-8 cm tall, few flowers opening at one time and produced sequentially; floral bracts ovate, acuminate, 2-6 mm long. Flowers white, nonresupinate. Pedicellate ovary pubescent, 5-7 mm long. Sepals with greenish external flush, dorsally pubescent, free; dorsal sepal elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute to obtuse, 3.5-6 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate, oblique, acute to acuminate, 4-6 mm long, 2.5-4 mm wide. Petals glabrous, attached to the base of the column, clawed, unequally bilobed, falcate, 5-6 mm long. Lip glabrous, claw fully adnate to the base of the column, lamina sessile, free portion 3.5-4.5 mm long, shallowly and broadly saccate at base, apically trilobed; lateral lobes rounded; middle lobe narrow. Column ca. 2.5 mm long. Fruits erect, ellipsoidal, 7-8 mm long.

  • Discussion

    2. Ponthieva ventricosa (Grisebach) Fawcett & Rendle, Fl. Jamaica 1: 39. 1910. Cranichis ventricosa Grisebach, Fl. Brit. W . I. 639. 1864. Type. Wilson s.n., from Jamaica (K). Phenology & Pollination. Flowering occurs during the winter. Evidence from herbarium specimens indicates that our plants may self-pollinate.

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. Greater Antilles.