Mario wrote : > The photo labeled as Maxillaria meleagris in IOPSE is truly M. > punctostriata (sorry Jay, it seems I overlooked this correction; you > already have another photo of M. punctostriata). Now, M. punctostriata > has recently been put in the synonymy of M. cucullata, which is a > variable species, and sometimes has almost pure purple flowers. I > prefer to use the name M. punctostriata for Costa Rican-Panamanian > populations, but apparently northern populations become progressively > more similar to M. cucullata from Mexico (notice that Jay's photo of M. > cucullata is very similar to the other two mentioned above). The M. > cucullata species complex is quite complicated and needs to be sorted > out taxonomically.
Mario sorry to hound you but if you do not ask questions you do not learn. I am now more confused than ever as I read up on what you say above (not doubting you). In "Flora of Panama" Allen gives as synonyms for Maxillaria cucullata the following Maxillarias : M. Meleagris Lindl, M. Lendeniana Rich & Gal., M. obscura Linden & Rchb., and M. punctostriata Rchb.f.. In "Flora of Guatemala" Ames and Correll give as synonyms for Maxillaria cucullata the following Maxillarias : M. rhombea Lindl., M. atrata Reichb.f., M. obscura Lindl. and M. praestans Reich.f. and as synonyms for Maxillaria meleagris they give the following Maxillarias : M. lindeniana A. Rich & Gal., and M. punctostriataReichb.f. Botanica's "Pocket Orchids" they seem to follow Ames and Correll in that they give Maxillaria punctostriata as a synonym for Maxillaria meleagris. Now my question. When I look at Jay's photos of Maxillaria cucullata and his Maxillaria meleagris, taking a good look at the smooth looking front of the callus/fleshy ridge on the lip, they are both "smooth" and when I look at the photo of the "red" form of the flower of Maxillaria meleagris the callus looks decidedly ridged. My question to you is simply this : Are the two photos of the yellow flowers (Maxillaria cucullata and Maxillaria meleagris) the same species and probably both Maxillaria cucullata and the photo of the pink flower a true Maxillaria meleagris? The only diference that I see in the two yellow flowers is that one is a bit under exposed and dark. Shouldn;t we just go with Allen and call them all Maxillaria cucullata? :-) Keep well and kind regards Mike South Africa _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
