Lepanthes austinae Dod ex Luer 2003 SUBGENUS Lepanthes SECTION Lepanthes SUBSECTION Lepanthes SERIES Lepanthes

TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer and Selbyana 24: 8 Dod ex Luer 2003

Common Name Austin's Lepanthes [Luer just states name intended by D Dod]

Flower Size to .12" [to 3 mm]

Found in Haiti without locational or elevational data as a mini-miniature sized, caespitose epiphyte with slender, erect ramicauls enveloped by 5 to 7 minutely scabrous lepanthiform sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, broadly ovate-subcordate, obtuse, rounded to broadly cuneate, abruptly contracted below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the spring on an erect, borne behind the leaf by a filiform peduncle ca. .08" [2 mm] long, rachis .16 " [4 mm] long, congested, distichous, successively single, several flowered inflorescence with slightly subechinate, as long as the pedicel floral bracts.

"Apparently endemic to the forested mountains of southeastern Haiti, where it is known from a single collection, this species is characterized by the very small habit with a short raceme behind a subcordate leaf. The sepals are narrowly triangular and acute with the laterals connate below the middle. The petals are small and transversely oblong. The lobes of the lip have incomplete, rounded blades below the middle that flank the column. Above the middle, the lobes curve beneath the apex of the column. The appendix arises externally and protrudes at the sinus." Luer 2003

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Selbyana 24: 6 Dod ex Luer 2003 drawing fide; Orchid Flora of the Greater Antilles Ackerman 2014

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