Bifrenaria charlesworthii

[Frdemetr]

This plant is better known as Bifr. villosula, due its 'hairy' lip. As its 'sister' species, Bifr racemosa, it comes from southeastern Brazil, growing in median altitudes (~500-800m) in the Atlantic Rain Forest. According to the literature, the trilobate yellow callus in the lip and the lateral sepals divergent to each other are the main differences in comparison to Bifr racemosa (racemosa has a white callus and lateral sepals paralel to each other). In my own collection, racemosa has a more or less yellow callus also, the lateral sepals are different indeed. The hairy lip is the main difference I can see (racemosa has only a slightly pubescent labellum). But both species are sympatric and 'intermediate' clones can occur (natural hybrids?). The spur is straight, not curved.

[stitz]

Frederico,

Your plant is beautifully grown! I'm truly impressed.

I am curious about the genus. As a result of your post, I did a little reading. I learned that some species (including yours) were once designated as Stenocoryne and are now considered Bifrenaria. Do you know the history?

--Stitz--

[Frdemetr]

Hi Stitz!

Yes, the first name of these plants was Adipe, then Stenocoryne and now Bifrenaria. The only difference between small-flowers Bifrenarias (former Stenocorynes) and big-flowers Bifrenarias is the size! Samantha Koehler (a Brazilian botanist, besides her name...) proved they are all Bifrenarias with DNA analysis. This is the reference: Koehler S, Williams NH, Whitten WM, Amaral MCE. PHYLOGENY OF THE BIFRENARIA (ORCHIDACEAE) COMPLEX BASED ON MORPHOLOGY AND SEQUENCE DATA FROM NUCLEAR rDNA INTERNAL TRANSCRIBED SPACERS (ITS) AND CHLOROPLAST trnL-trnF REGION. Int. J. Plant Sci. 163(6):1055–1066. 2002