Araeococcus flagellifolius.

Derrick · April 22, 2020

Another especially for Aurelien.

Araeococcus Brongn. (Adolphe Théodore (de) Brongniart.) In Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique, sér. 2, 15: p370. (1841). (Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 2,) Type A. micranthus.

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36284721#page/374/mode/1up

P O W O. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:4884-1

Species. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:4884-1#children

The genus name is from the Greek “araios” (thin, weak, slight) and the Latin “coccus” (berry). This genus is divided into two subgenera: the type subgenus and Pseudaraeococcus Mez.

Range, northern South America, Central America and Trinidad

Araeococcus flagellifolius Harms (Hermann August Theodor Harms.) In Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem 10: p784. (1929). (Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem) Not digitised. Type. HT: Huebner 58; July 1929; Brazil: Amazonas: Rio Apuahu, Rio Negro drainage, B (photo, F. http://legacy.tropicos.org/name/4300058

Habit/ Ecology. An attractive, unique epiphytic species with long whip-like bronze-hued leaves about 60cm. (2ft.) long from a slender ovoid pseudobulb. Its low-growing slender flower stems are pale red, and bear many small pink flowers that become blue-black berries. Its possession of pseudobulbs infers it may be myrmecodomic (ant-housing).

Habitat/Range. Near rivers at elevations around 213m, (700ft.) in the upper Amazon region.

Etymology. Araeococcus is from the Greek araeo, meaning few, and kokkos seed, the genus having the smallest fruit and the fewest seeds in the family. Flagellifolius refers to its whip-like leaves. https://journal.bsi.org/V21/5/ Cultivation, it thrives out doors in southern California.

Photos. https://floredeguyane.piwigo.com/index?/category/172-epiphytes