User:Anejeliquem/Microthelys rubrocalosa

Microthelys rubrocallosa
Microthelys rubrocallosa is a flowering orchid native to Mexico and Guatemala. Commonly known as the Green Medusa Orchid, it is typically known for its blue-green basal leaves and slender stalk. This orchid can grow up to 36 centimeters high and produce dozens of flowers. The first discovery in The United States (US) was on the hillside of the Sacramento Mountains in Otero County, New Mexico in 2004.

Description
Microthelys rubrocallosa is considered a perennial monsoon orchid, an orchid that flourishes on summer rains caused by monsoon winds. Typically this species will appear as leaves above the ground until the plant emerges in late July or later in the year depending on location for the monsoon rains. Dry years will cause the plant stalk to be short or not emerge from the ground at all and in wet years, the plant will appear as leaves on the ground.

Flowers
Flowering plants produce a pair of dark-bluish green basal leaves that appear before inflorescence, however unblooming plants produce single leaf. Each individual plant can develop thirty or more tubular flowers with each flower growing above five millimeters long at a ninety degree angle to the ovaries. Typically the lip is a vibrant reddish-orange color with septal and petals being green with frosted white edges and hood-forming. This species is unique because the dorsal septa is joined together at the column and the petals below the column.

Taxonomy
The first scientific description of this orchid was taxonomically identified as Spiranthes rubrocalosa in 1895 by B.L. Rob & Greenm. However in 1982, Garay, proposed a new taxonomic genus, Microthelys, that is closely related to Spiranthes. Analysis showed that this new genus, Microthelys, is different from Spiranthes due to their distinct septa and diverging apices but is considered a close relative. Therefore, Microthelys rubrocallosa became the new taxonomic name.

In 2011, Microthelys rubrocallosa had another taxonomic name change to Funkiella rubrocallosa. However, this genus does not seem to be as widely used due to analysis strategies evolving causing debate.

Distribution
Microthelys rubrocallosa is native to central Mexico, northern Mexico and Guatemala with some occurrences in Ecuador and southwest of the United States. Native to Mexico, most known occurrences are primarily in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Chihuahua, Mexico. Occurances in New Mexico were found only 270 miles north of where the original collection of Spiranthes rubrocalosa was collected in Mexico in 1887.

Habitat
In New Mexico, Microthelys rubrocallosa in primarily found in post-fire conifer forest or light to moderate wooded forests. It is not fully understood if fire plays any importance because this species has been found in a post-fire forest ecosystem. Typically evelation is around 8,000 feet (2440 meters) in elevation, and species can be found on a south-facing hillside.

There is little documentation of Microthelys rubrocallosa habitat in Mexico.

Ecology
Conservation status is unknown due to a small population in New Mexico and not well documented abundance in Mexico.