Polystachya concreta

(Jacquin) Garay & H. R. Sweet

in R. A. Howard, Fl. Less. Antill. 1: 178. 1974.

Common names: Yellow spike orchid
Illustrated
Basionym: Epidendrum concretum Jacquin Enum. Syst. Pl., 30. 1760
Synonyms: Epidendrum minutum Aublet Polystachya extinctoria Reichenbach f. Polystachya minuta (Aublet) Britton
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 618. Mentioned on page 616.

Plants cespitose. Roots numerous, 2–3 mm diam. Stems thickened at base, hidden by leaf-sheaths, composed of several internodes, to 4 cm. Leaves 2–4; blade thin, narrowly oblong to elliptic, 3.5–20 × 1.1–3 cm, apex mostly acute. Inflorescences usually paniculate racemes, simple racemes in small plants; peduncle compressed; floral bracts spreading to reflexed, 1–2 mm. Flowers yellow or pale green with white lip; dorsal sepal ovate-elliptic, 2.5–4 × 1.5–2.5 mm; lateral sepals triangular, 2.5–5 mm; petals oblanceolate, rounded, 2–3 × 1 mm; lip 3-lobed, 3–5 mm, middle lobe quadrangular to oblong, lateral lobes falcate; disc with linear, densely farinose callus (pseudopollen); column cylindric, short; column-foot 2–3 mm; pedicellate ovary to 7 mm. Capsules brown at maturity, ellipsoid, 6–12 mm.


Phenology: Flowering Aug–early Dec.
Habitat: Cypress swamps, hammocks, mangroves
Elevation: 0–20 m

Distribution

V26 1263-distribution-map.jpg

Fla., pantropical (see discussion below)

Discussion

Most plants of Polystachya concreta flower from August to December; some flower at other times of the year. In Florida, Polystachya concreta [P. flavescens (Blume) J. J. Smith] is pollinated by the halictid bee, Dialictus aff. creberrimus (G. J. Goss 1977b). The bee collects the detachable, starchy lip hairs (pseudopollen).

An extensive list of synonomy is available (G. C. K. Dunsterville and L. A. Garay [1959]–1976, vol. 3), but after discussions with Phillip Cribb (pers. comm.), we suspect that the African and Asian synonyms represent different species (see also P. J. Cribb 1984). For this reason, we have excluded them from the list, even though some of them are often used for neotropical plants. Furthermore, Polystachya concreta is not as widespread in the Neotropics as formerly believed; it is absent from Mexico and Central America (J. T. Atwood, G. Carnevali F.-C., R. L. Dressler, pers. comm.).

Cranichis luteola Swartz and Polystachya luteola (Swartz) Hooker are not legitimate names.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"thin" is not a number.

... more about "Polystachya concreta"
self-pollination +
James D. Ackerman +
(Jacquin) Garay & H. R. Sweet +
Epidendrum concretum +
indehiscent +
not +  and articulate +
conduplicate +  and plicate +
3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
narrowly oblong +  and elliptic +
1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
ellipsoid +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (?) +  and 1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (?) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
cylindric +
Yellow spike orchid +
pubescent +  and callose +
Fla. +  and pantropical (see discussion below) +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
0–20 m +
spreading +  and reflexed +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
3-merous +, sessile +  and pedicellate +
pale green +  and yellow +
distinct +
Cypress swamps, hammocks, mangroves +
lateral +  and terminal +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
petiolate +, sessile +  and simple +
duplicate +, convolute +, whorled +, opposite +, distichous +  and alternate +
cauline +  and basal +
2 (?) +  and 4 (?) +
reduced +
leathery +
3-lobed +
larger +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
differing in form and color +
quadrangular +  and oblong +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
1-many-flowered +  and cymose +
pendent +  and erect +
compressed +
rounded;oblanceolate +
smaller +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (?) +
Flowering Aug–early Dec. +
ellipsoid +  and globose +
ceraceous +  and hard +
in R. A. Howard, Fl. Less. Antill. +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
aerial +  and subterranean +
minute +
free +, distinct +, adnate +  and connate +
foliaceous +
not +  and alike +
Illustrated +
branched +, or +  and simple +
distant +  and clustered +
pendent +  and erect +
proliferous +
pseudobulbous +  and slender +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
concave +  and convex +
Epidendrum minutum +, Polystachya extinctoria +  and Polystachya minuta +
Polystachya concreta +
Polystachya +
species +
ovate +  and elliptic +
annual +  and perennial +
plant +  and cespitose +
terrestrial +, lithophytic +  and epiphytic +
saprophytic +, photosynthetic +  and mycotrophic +