Leafless bentspur orchid

Aeranthus pachyrrhizus Reichenbach f., Flora 48: 279. 1865; A. spathaceus Grisebach

Plants appressed to substrate, inconspicuous, leafless at anthesis. Roots gray-green, fascicled, 2.5–5 mm wide when flattened against substrate. Stems hidden by roots, to 5 mm. Leaves early deciduous, minute, scarious. Inflorescences densely flowered spikes, erect to pendent, stout, to 3.5 cm; floral bracts broadly cordate, 1–3 mm, scarious, margins erose-denticulate. Flowers resupinate, funnelform; sepals brownish orange, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 4 × 1.5 mm, apex acute; petals creamy white with pink flush, otherwise similar to sepals, 3.5 × 1.5 mm; lip same color as petals, 3-lobed, 2–3 × 2 mm, middle lobe triangular-acuminate, lateral lobes triangular-rounded; spur saccate, 2.5 mm; column less than 0.5 mm; pollinia greenish; ovary sessile, 1 mm. Capsules brownish orange, ellipsoid, 6–9 × 3–4 mm, pubescent.

Flowering Sep--Oct. Cypress swamps and wet hammocks; 0--20 m; Fla.; West Indies; n South America.