Lepanthes chelosepala [Luer & Hirtz] comb. novo. Pfahl 2013 GENUS Lepanthes SUBGENUS Brachycladium SECTION Amplectentes Luer 1994

TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer and The Epidendra Website

Common Name The Clawed Sepal Lepanthes

Flower Size .12" [3 mm]

Found in Pichincha province of Ecuador at elevations around 1500 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with a repent, branching, rhizome giving rise to a suberect ramicaul enveloped by 1 to 2, thin, long-ciliate, lepanthiform sheaths and carrying a single, apical, prone, coriaceous, circular, rounded and contracted below into the base leaf that blooms in the summer on an erect, congested, .2 to .24" [5 to 6 mm] long, successively single, 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence.

"With little round, prostrate leaves produced along a creeping rhizome, this little species is similar to other species in the section Amplectentes. The two or three unusual flowers are produced successively by an erect peduncle about as long as the leaf. The dorsal sepal is erect while the laterals are acutely reflexed; all are carinate dorsally with the carinae ending in a little hook. While the dorsal sepal is densely pubescent, the lateral sepals are only cellular. The petals are transversely bilobed with the triangular upper lobe acutely folded over the acuminately triangular lower lobe. The lip is bilobed basally with rounded lobes embracing the column; the apex is obtuse and entire." Luer & Hirtz 2009

Synonyms Andinia chelosepala (Luer & Hirtz) Karremans & S.V.Uribe 2017; Neooreophilus chelosepalus (Luer & Hirtz) Archila 2009; *Oreophilus chelosepalus Luer & Hirtz 2009; Penducella chelosepala (Luer & Hirtz) Luer 2010

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Selbyana 30: 16 Luer & Escobar 2009 as Oreophilus chelosepalus drawing fide; Orchid Digest 74(2): 69 Luer 2010 as Penducella chelosepala; Flora of Ecuador No 88 Lepanthes and affiliates Dodson & Luer 2011 as Penducella chelopsepala drawing fide; Pleurothallids Neotropical Jewels Vol 1 Karremans & Viera 2020 as Andinia stalactites photo fide

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