Cyrtochilum halteratum

Synonyms: Oncidium halteratum Lindl. Orchid. Linden. 14. 1846.

Type: Colombia. Quindío: “epiphyte from the forests of Quindiu, in the province of Mariquita’’, alt. 7,800 ft. February. J.J. Linden 1289 (holotype: K-L; isotype: W).

Illustrated specimen: Colombia. Tolima: Municipality of Villahermosa, 2.800 m. 26 Nov 2018. M.A. Sierra-Ariza 94 (TOLI; LCDP voucher).

Cyrtochilum halteratum (Lindl.) Kraenzl. is a widely distributed, showy species found from Ecuador to Colombia and Venezuela at elevations above 2500 m. In Colombia this species has been recorded in the central and western cordilleras in the departments of Antioquia, Quindío and Santander. Similar to C. hirtzii Dalström and C. geniculatum Königer, C. halteratum can be recognized from the former by the bilobed callus and the falcate wings of the column versus the more complex callus and truncate wings of the column, and from the latter by the reniform dorsal sepal versus orbicular to ovate and the three-ridged callus versus bilobed.