Ponthieva brittoniae

Plants 30-50 cm. Roots unknown. Stems subterranean, short. Leaves withering at or during anthesis, 3-12; petiole 1-2.5 cm; blade elliptic to ovate, 4-10 × 1.5-3.5 cm, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescences: peduncle 26-37 cm, partially enclosed by tubular sheaths, proximalmost larger but not leafy; rachis laxly 20-35-flowered, 10-18 cm; floral bracts lanceolate, clasping base of ovary, 5-10 mm, apex acuminate, pubescent. Flowers: sepals green, adaxially pubescent; dorsal sepal distinct, oblong-lanceolate, 4-5 × 2-3 mm, apex acute to obtuse; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, 4-5 × 2.5 mm, apex acute to obtuse; petals recurved, white, indistinctly clawed, obliquely triangular-ovate, 4-4.5 × 1.5 mm, margins entire, apex acute, pubescent; lip subsessile, white with 2 dark green blotches, obovate, 4.5 × 3.5 mm, apex short-caudate; column white, 2.5 mm; pedicellate ovary 7-9 mm. Capsules 8-13 mm.

Flowering Dec--early Mar. Open rocky pinelands; 0--20 m; Fla.; West Indies (Bahamas).

Most of the original habitat of Ponthieva brittoniae has succumbed to urbanization. Only two locations are known to exist. One consisted of only a single specimen, and plants of the other have not reappeared since 1986 and may have been destroyed by roadwork (C. McCartney 1997).