Ponthieva brittoniae Ames

Mrs. Britton's Shadow Witch

Stem: Ponthieva brittoniae. ~ By Roger L. Hammer. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Leaves: Ponthieva brittoniae. ~ By James T. Johnson. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Flowers: Ponthieva brittoniae. ~ By Roger L. Hammer. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Inflorescences: Ponthieva brittoniae. ~ By Mark Larocque. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Facts About

There are no synonyms for this orchid.

Ponthieva brittoniae, commonly known as Mrs. Britton's Shadow Witch, is distributed in Cuba, the Bahamas, and Miami-Dade County, Florida. This species typically has 4 or 5 leaves arranged in a basal rosette that often whither at flowering time. The inflorescence develops in January and February, with 5-20 non-resupinate greenish white flowers on a terminal raceme. The lip is white with two dark green blotches. This orchid grows in shallow swales and depressions in open pine rocklands and has been reported to grow in Everglades National Park.

Ponthieva brittoniae is considered globally vulnerable, although there is insufficient information on this orchid in Cuba and the Bahamas. In Florida, this orchid is endangered and extremely rare.

Ponthieva brittoniae, Mrs. Britton's Shadow Witch, was named for Elizabeth Britton (1857-1934), a prominent botantist and leading founder of the New York Botanical Garden.

Pollination

Pollinator information for this orchid has not been reported but the genus, though self-compatible, may require insects, such as halictid bees, to transfer the pollen. Anthophora bees may visit the flower to collect oil, secreted by the lip, to feed their larvae.

Ecosystem Type

Woodlands

Characteristics

Habitat:: terrestrial

Leaf arrangement:: basal

Number of leaves on stem:

four
five

Form of the labellum:: the labellum is not pouch-like

Labellum outline:: the labellum is simple

Main color of labellum:

green to brown
white

Nectar spur:: absent

Inflorescence type:: the inflorescence is a raceme

Labellum characteristics:

the labellum is saccate
the labellum is simple

Labellum length:: 4–5 mm

Sepal length:: 4–5 mm

Plant height:: 5–35 cm

Show All Characteristics

Flowers
Floral bract length:

Up to 5 mm

Flower petal color:

white

Flower symmetry:

the flower is zygomorphic
Flowering date:
January

February
Flowers per inflorescence:

5–20

Form of the labellum:

the labellum is not pouch-like

Hairs on flower stalk:

the pedicel has at least some hairs with glands at their bases or tips

Hairs on inflorescence axis:

the inflorescence stem has hairs entirely without glands

Inflorescence type:

the inflorescence is a raceme
Labellum characteristics:
the labellum is saccate

the labellum is simple
Labellum length:

4–5 mm

Labellum outline:

the labellum is simple

Labellum position:

the flowers are non-resupinate

Length of peduncle:

260–370 mm

Lower petal strongly red-veined:

no
Main color of labellum:
green to brown

white
Nectar spur:

absent

Number of stamens:

1

Orientation of side petals:

the lateral petals are declined

Self-pollinating flowers:

there are no cleistogamous flowers

Sepal length:

4–5 mm

Sepals fused only to sepals:

the sepals are separate from one another

Spots on labellum:

yes
Fruits or seeds

Fruit length:

Up to 8 mm

Fruit width:

Up to 4 mm

Seed capsule orientation:

the capsule points upwards or outwards
Growth form

Plant height:

5–35 cm

Roots:

the rhizomes are non-coralloid

Underground organs:

slender roots

myco-heterotrophic or not:

the plant is chlorophyllous
Leaves
Bract relative length:

bracts may be variable, both longer and shorter than the flower

Leaf arrangement:

basal

Leaf blade edges:

the leaf edges are entire

Leaf blade length:

40–100 mm

Leaf blade shape:

elliptic

Leaf blade tip:

the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse

Leaf blade width:

15–35 mm

Leaves during flowering:

leaves are absent during flowering
Number of leaves on stem:
four

five
Place

Ecosystem type:

woodlands

Habitat:

terrestrial

Location:

Florida
Facts and Uses

Mycorrhiza

Monitoring

Propagation

Restoration

Native to North America

Yes

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

	Conservation and Wetland Status
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Florida
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Florida Rank	Highly State Rare
Florida Status	Endangered
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

North America Distribution

Adapted from USDA data

Facts About

Pollination

Ecosystem Type

Characteristics

Flowers

Fruits or seeds

Growth form

Leaves

Place

Facts and Uses

Native to North America

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

North America Distribution