The Heart-Shaped Rhynchostele

Appearance

Small to medium sized, with ellipsoid-ovoid, flattened pseudobulbs subtended by several scarious, 2 to 4, conduplicate below and leaf-bearing above sheaths and carrying a single, apical, elliptic-lanceolate, apiculate, leaf that is conduplicate basally and blooms in the spring on a basal, erect, to 1 1/2' [30 to 60 cm]long, racemose, laxly few to several [4 to 12] flowered inflorescence arising from on a a mature pseudobulb from the leaf bearing sheaths with lanceolate, acuminate bracts.

Naming

Synonyms Amparoa cordata (Lindl.) Archila 2009; Amparoa duvivieriana (Rchb.f.) Archila 2009; Cymbiglossum cordatum (Lindl.) Halb. 1983; Lemboglossum cordatum [Lindley]Halbinger 1984; Lemboglossum cordatum f. sulphureum (Rchb.f.) O.Gruss & M.Wolff 2007; *Odontoglossum cordatum Lindley 1838; Odontoglossum cordatum var. aureum B.S.Williams 1897; Odontoglossum cordatum var. sulphureum Rchb.f. 1880; Odontoglossum hookeri Lemaire 1856; Odontoglossum lueddemannii Regel 1859; Odontoglossum maculatum Hook. 1855; Odontoglossum maculatum var. duvivierianum Rchb.f. 1888; Rhynchostele × duvivieriana (Rchb.f.) Soto Arenas & Salazar 1993 .

Distribution

From Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and in Venezuela. Elsewhere found as ornamental.

Habitat

Cold to warm growing species is found epiphytically and sometimes terrestrially in the paramo [mist forest] that forms at 1900-3000 meters

Uses

Ornamental.