Pleurothallis mendozae [Luer] comb. novo. Pfahl 2013
SUBGENUS Acianthera [Scheidw.] Luer 1986
Photos by © Lois Cinert and the The Illinois Orchid Society Website
Common Name Mendoza's Pleurothallis [Ecuadorian collector of species current]
Flower Size .04" [5 mm]
Found in La Paz department of Bolivia at elevations around 1600 meters as a miniature sized, cool, pendent growing, repent epiphyte with slender, descending short ramicauls enveloped by 1 to 2 tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, pendent, thickly coriaceous, rigid, narrowly linear, acute, slightly curved, narrowing and shallowly channeled below into the sessile base leaf that blooms in the winter on a single, nestled in the sulcus of the leaf, arising through a spathe at the base of the leaf, .4 to .6" [1 to 1.5 cm] long including the .4" [1 cm] long peduncle, single to 2 flowered inflorescence with a longer than the ovary floral bract .
"The vegetative features of this species are distinctive. From a creeping rhizome, descending ramicauls are produced at intervals of about a .4" [1 cm] to bear a thick, narrowly linear, pendent leaf. From the narrow base, a bright orange flower is borne singly or in a short, 2-flowered raceme." Carl Luer Selbyana 30: 1 Luer 2009
Synonyms *Acianthera mendozae Luer 2009
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Selbyana 30: 1 Luer & Escobar 2009 as Acianthera mendozae
Selbyana 30: 25 Luer & Escobar 2009 as Acianthera mendozae drawing fide;
Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia Nomenclature Note #7 Pfahl 2013
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