Lepanthes artificialis A.Doucette 2025 SECTION Lepanthes SUBSECTION Lepanthes SERIES Elongatae 1993

TYPE Photos by © Alfonso Doucette

Partial shadeCool LATE FallEARLY Winter

Common Name or Meaning The Artificial Lepanthes [The specific epithet artificialis (Latin: “artificial”) refers to the novel process by which the name of this species was produced and the article composed, with assistance from artifi-cial intelligence. This name acknowledges the innovative use of technology in modern botanical research, symbolizing a bridge between traditional taxonomy and emerging tools]

Flower Size .4" [1 cm]

Found in Peru without locational data as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphtye with erect, terete stems enclosed by 6 to 8, infundibular, microscopically pubescent along the vein, lepanthiform sheaths with the ostium ovate, microscopically pubescent along the margin and carrying an coriaceous, elliptical, obtuse, entire, , petiolate base leaf that blooms in the late fall and early winter on a racemose, peduncle terete, 9.0–23.0 mm long, rachis terete, glabrous, .032 to .24" [.8 to 6 mm] long, successively single, few flowered inflorescence

Lepanthes artificialis is most similar to Lepanthes acarina , but can be distinguished by the following characteristics: the overall plant size is larger, with stems 1.2 to 2" [3 to 5 cm] long (vs. .2 to 1" [.5 to 2.5 cm]); it is enveloped by more sheaths, 6 to 8 (vs. 3 to 4); the leaves are broader, measuring .22 to.42" [5.5 to 10.5 mm] wide (vs. .16 to .2" [4 to 5 mm] wide); the bracts are glabrous (vs. muricate); the dorsal sepal is longer and narrower, .156" [3.9 mm] long and .052" 2.3 mm wide (vs. .08 to .1" x .01" wide [2 to 2.5 mm long and 2.5 mm] wide), with glabrous external carinae (vs. serrulate-ciliate), an entire margin (vs. serrulate-ciliate), and an acuminate tip (vs. subacute); the petals are smaller, .02 long and .122" [.5 mm long and 2.8 mm] wide (vs. .052 long and .052" [1.3 mm long and 5.3 mm] wide), with a well-developed angle at the apex (vs. reduced), and a narrowly rectangular lower lobe (vs. narrowly oblong, sub-falcate). Alfonso Doucette 2025

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Andreettana 1(1): 21 H.Medina & J.Portilla 2025 photo/drawing fide

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