TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Perennial, terrestrial in CA, some nongreen, generally from rhizomes
Leaves linear to ± round or scale-like, generally sessile
Inflorescence: generally raceme or spike, bracted
Flower bisexual, bilateral, sometimes spurred; sepals generally 3, generally petal-like, generally free, uppermost generally erect; petals 3, lowest different ("lip"); stamen generally 1, fused with style and stigma into column, pollen generally sticky, generally removed as sessile anther sacs; ovary inferior, generally twisted 180° (so lip appears to be lowest perianth segment), 1-chambered, placentas 3, parietal; stigmas 3, generally under column tip
Fruit: capsule
Seeds very many, minute
Genera in family: ± 800 genera, ± 18,000 species: especially tropical (worldwide except deserts). Many cultivated for ornamental, especially Cattelya, Cymbidium, Epidendrum, Oncidium, Paphiopedalum; Vanilla planifolia fruits used as source of food flavoring
Reference: [Luer 1975 Orchids US and Can, NY Bot Garden; Coleman 1995 Wild Orchids of California, Cornell Univ.]
Nongreen plants derive nutrition through fungal intermediates.
Caudex tuber- or bulb-like, 14 cm, generally ovoid
Leaves: basal 25, linear to widely oblanceolate; cauline bract-like
Inflorescence: spike or raceme, generally cylindric; flower bract generally < flower
Flower: perianth white to green; sepals generally 25.5 mm, 12 mm wide, 1-veined, upper pointed forward to erect, lower free, spreading to reflexed; lateral petals ± = sepals, spreading to erect; lip pointed forward or down, spurred; column < lip
Fruit ascending to erect
Species in genus: ± 8 species: w North America
Etymology: (Charles V. Piper, Am botanist, 18671926)
Reference: [Morgan & Ackerman 1990 Lindleyana 5:205211]
Some species difficult to separate; green-flowered species doubtfully distinct from P. unalascensis.
Native |
Plant 1585 cm
Leaves: basal 820 cm, 830 mm wide
Inflorescence 1045 cm, open
Flower: perianth green; upper sepal ascending to pointed forward; lateral petals spreading to ascending; lip 24 mm, ovate-deltate, flat; spur 2.56 mm, pointed back or down
Chromosomes: n=21
Ecology: Uncommon. Generally dry sites, scrub, woodland, forest
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast, s Channel Islands (Santa Catalina Island), San Gabriel Mountains, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Horticultural information: very DFCLT.