Myrmecophila tibicinis

Myrmecophila tibicinis is an species in the genus Myrmecophila

Description

A giant-sized, warm to hot growing epiphyte and sometimes lithophyte with several leaves, it has huge, 45 cm., sulcate, conic to cylindric psuedobulbs that are hollow and have an entrance at the base so that in the wild there are always ants living in the pseudobulbs. There are 2 to 5 apical, elliptic-ovate leaves. These plants bloom in March or April and can be grown with year round watering although it is better to give less through the winter. These plants must be mounted on a large wood mount as they do not like to be disturbed, and it does not take long for it to cover a branch. They have up to 450 cm long, erect, paniculate spikes with the successively opening, fragrant flowers in a cluster at the apex so thought must be put into space so the spikes don't get broken. It can be confused with M brysiana but differs in having a larger magenta flower with a larger column while M brysiana has a much smaller yellow flower with a shorter column.The dried pseudobulbs of this species can be fashioned to make a trumpet to call the children home from their playtime hence the common name.

Distribution

This Orchid is found from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Colombia in seasonally dry deciduous forests on trunks and larger branches often in full sun at elevations of 300 to 600 meters.

Naming

Common Names: The Trumpet Player's Schomburgkia

Synonyms

1.Bletia tibicinis Rchb.f 1862 2.Cattleya tibicinis Beer 1854 3.Epidendrum tibicinis Bateman ex Lindley 1838 4.Laelia tibicinis L.O.Wms.1941 5.Myrmecophila grandiflora (Lindl.) Carnevali & J.L.Tapia & I.Ramírez 2001 6.Schomburgkia brysiana var intermedia Jones 1972 7.Schomburgkia grandiflora (Lindl.) Sander 1901 8.Schomburgkia intermedia (H.G.Jones) Withner 1993 9.Schomburgkia tibicinis [Batem. ex Lindley] Batem. 1841 10.Schomburgkia tibicinis var grandiflora Lindley 1845