Native to México (Chiapas), Guatemala, and Belize.
Edited 5 June 2007
© Nina Rach
Named in honor of Dr. Wm. Mark Whitten, at the Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, "specialist in the biology and classification of the subtribe Stanhopinae."
According to Soto Arenas et al. (2002), this species grows as an epiphyte in lowland and lower montane rainforest, 300 to 1500 m. and flowers from July to September. It is the commonest Stanhopea in the Selva Lacandona (Lacandona Forest, eastern Chiapas; map below, right from SEMARNAT). It is sometimes found with S. graveolens,
S. inodora, S. oculata, and S. dodsoniana.
In 2003, Soto Arenas noted that it is also found in Alta Verapaz, and is confused with Stanhopea ruckeri from Nicaragua. He examined specimens from the collections of D.E. Breedlove (13043; 68659).
Stanhopea whittenii is distinguished from
Stanhopea oculata by its fewer flowers (2-3 in wild), and massive hypochile with a broader, shorter, bright orange base. It is often found at lower elevation than S. oculata. Fragrance is similar to, but stronger than both S. oculata and S. dodsoniana, and it has a touch of cinnamon-scent as well (trans-methyl cinnamate).
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Printed References:
D.E. Breedlove (1981) "Introduction to the Flora of Chiapas," in: Breedlove, D.E. (ed.), Flora of Chiapas. Part 1. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. 35 pp.
P.M. Catling and V.R. Catling (1988) "An annotated list of the orchids of Belize," in: Orquidea (Mex.) 11: 63-102, fig. 3.
Rudolf Jenny (June 2004) "The Genus Stanhopea, Part II: S. nigripes to S. xytriophora," in: Caesiana 22: 146-291. Color & B&W photos, line-drawings, Italian/English.
Gerardo A. Salazar and Miguel A. Soto-Arenas (2003) "Stanhopea dodsoniana, S. whittenii," in: E. Hágsater y M.A. Soto (eds.), Icones Orchidacearum: Orchids of Mexico, parts 2-3. herbario AMO, México, D.F.
M. Soto Arenas, G.A. Salazar & Gunther Gerlach (2002) "Orchids of Mexico, Parts 2-3," in: Icones Orchidacearum 5-6, Plate 679. [text, location map, and detailed line drawing]
Miguel Angel Soto Arenas (2003) "Diversidad de orquideas en la region El Momon-Margaritas-Montebello [Chiapas]," Final report of CONABIO Project R225, from Nov. 30, 1998 to Sept. 30, 2001. http://www.conabio.gob.mx/institucion/proyectos/resultados/InfR255.pdf [Acineta barkeri; Gongora galeata, leucochila, truncata; Stanhopea bucephalus, graveolens, inodora, saccata, whittenii]
W. Mark Whitten and Norris H. Williams (1992) "Floral fragrances of Stanhopea (Orchidaceae)," in: Lindleyana 7(3): 130-153.
Web References:
International Plant Names Index [IPNI],
www.ipni.org.
LACANDON Rain Forest Region, México -- http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/cpd/ma/ma1.htm. Data Sheet written by Olga Herrera-MacBryde (Smithsonian Institution) and Dr Rodrigo A. Medellín [Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
SEMARNAT: Selva Lacandona [SEMARNAT = Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales; Blvd. Adolfo Ruiz Cortines #4209, Jardines en la Montaña, Tlalpan, C.P. 14210; México, D.F.]
