Maianthemum salvinii is a rare perennial, epiphytic herb found in southern Mexico and Guatemala.
Plants grow from tall from rhizomes. Leafy, straight to arching stems are hairless and ribbed.
There are usually more than 7 leaves along the stalk, set apart; more closely spaced near the tip of the plant. They have short, 2âÂÂ5 mm long petioles and are long by wide with evident veins. Leaf blades are hairless, lance- to egg-shaped with pointed tips and rounded to long-tapered bases and with flat (not undulating) edges.
120 to 150 flowers are set in a complex raceme with a main axis 14âÂÂ35 cm long that is hanging but straight. The axis is ribbed, and smooth. There are 25 to 40 nodes along the main axis, set about 5 cm apart and set in helix along the main axis. Each node has 3 or 4 flowers set on slightly bent-back, drooping pedicels that are usually 15âÂÂ25 (up to 30) mm long.
The flowers are cup-shaped, with spreading tepals that are 4âÂÂ4.5 mm long and lavender to pale pink. Stamens are inserted at the tepal bases. Fruits are rounded, 8âÂÂ10 mm across, ripening to red. Flowering is in March; fruits are retained into January or February.
The distribution of Maianthemum salvinii is not well documented, but is reported from Guatemala and southeast Mexico. It is thought to be rare. The site in Guatemala that it was found has been developed, so is unlikely to have persisted there. It has also been documented adjacent to Guatemala, in the mountainous Tacaná-Boquerón region of Chiapas, Mexico.
Maianthemum salvinii Is an epiphyte of primary forests. In Guatemala it was found in forests on white sand slopes at 1800-2000m. It has also been found in the mountainous Tacaná-Boquerón region that has extensive montane cloud forests.
Picture of the type specimen at GBIF