Camaridium vestitum (Sw.) Lindl.
Small Flowered Maxillaria
Facts About
Accepted Synonyms: Camaridium micranthum, Cymbidium vestitum, Maxillaria parviflora
Camaridium vestitum, the Small Flowered Maxillaria, is a rhizome forming epiphyte with a distribution that includes the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. In the U.S. it is known from the Fahkahatchee Swamp (Collier County, Florida) but has not been seen since the 1970s. The leaves are pendulous and each pseudobulb has a single leaf. Plants can grow to 1 m in length. Inflorescences form at the base of pseudobulbs and each has small flowers (2-4 mm) that are white to light yellow with a yellow-orange lip.
Camaridium vestitum is apparently secure across its wide range but endangered in Florida where it may be extirpated.
Pollination
Pollinator information for this orchid has not been reported in North America but in Brazil, stingless bees in the Apidae tribe Meliponini and the ant subfamily, Ponerinae, have been documented as pollinators. Bee pheromone mimicry may attract bees to the flowers to promote pollination.
Ecosystem Type
Swamps, woodlands
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- epiphyte
- Number of leaves on stem:
- one
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is lobed
- Main color of labellum:
-
- orange
- yellow
- Nectar spur:
- absent
- Labellum characteristics:
- the labellum is lobed
- Labellum length:
- 2–4 mm
- Sepal length:
- 6–7 mm
Native to North America
Yes
North American Conservation Status & Distribution
Conservation Status
| Conservation and Wetland Status | |
|---|---|
| Global Rank | Apparently Secure |
| US Status | N/A |
| Canadian Status | N/A |