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The genus Restrepiella (Lindley 1838, Lesley Garay & Galfrid Dunsterville 1966) is a monotypic genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae).
It consists of a single species, Restrepiella ophiocephala, known from Mexico to Costa Rica. It occurs in damp forests alongside rivers at low altitude (40-1,600 m). It is morphologically similar to Restrepia, but differs in lacking hairlike attachments on a mobile lip and having 4 pollinia instead of two.
The epithet 'ophiocephala' is derived from the Greek words 'ophis' (snake) and 'cephalos' (head).
It grows from a short, creeping rhizome as a tufted, robust epiphyte to a length between 8 and 35 cm. The stout, cylindrical stem is erect and about 15 cm long and has a tubular bract. The fleshy, oblanceolate leaves are 8 to 18 cm long and have a short petiole.
The tiny single flowers have a length of about 2 cm. They grow from the base of the leaves, one at a time, on up to four clustered inflorescences. They have a pale yellowish-brown color, dotted with dull purple spots. The outer surface is downy. The obovate, dorsal sepal is erect, while the lateral sepals are fused (synsepals) with a small split at their apex. The elliptic petals are much shorter and with ciliated margins. The fleshy lip is tongue-shaped.
The flowers are in bloom from winter to spring and are strongly scented.
Reference
- Luer, C.A. (2000) Icones Pleurothallidinarum XVIII - SYSTEMATICS OF LEPANTHOPSIS, RESTREPIELLA, RESTREPIOPSIS, SALPISTELE & TEAGUEIA Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri ISBN:0915279797
- McLeish, I., Pearce, N.R. & B.R. Adams. (1995) Native Orchids of Belize. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
External link
Photos from Belize Botanical Gardens (http://www.belizebotanic.org/orchids/restrepiella_ophiocephala.html)
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