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.