Lepanthes cocculifera Luer & R.Escobar 1984 SUBGENUS Lepanthes SECTION Lepanthes SUBSECTION Lepanthes SERIES Lepanthes

TYPE drawing by © Carl Luer and The Epidendra Website

Common Name or Meaning The Minute Cocci Carrying Lepanthes [refers to the tiny lobules at the apex of the appendix]

Flower Size .16" [4 mm]

Found in Santander department of Colombia in cloud forests at elevations around 2850 meters as a miniature sized, cold growing epiphyte with stout, erect ramicauls enveloped by 5 to 10, coarsely ciliate, lepanthiform sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, ovate, acute, acuminate, apiculate, the rounded base contracted below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the later spring on a filiform, congested, distichous, 1.6" [4 cm] long including the .8" [2 cm] long peduncle, successively single, few flowered inflorescence arising from beneath the leaf and carrying flowers with light yellow sepals, yellow suffused with purple towards the base, microscopically pubescent petals and a deep orange brown, microscopically pubescent lip.

"This species is distinguished by the relatively robust, coarsely ciliate lepanthiform stems; a short, congested raceme, ovate sepals; a much reduced lower lobe of the petals; and an appendix of the lip with a minute pair of terminal lobules." Luer & Escobar 1984

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Orquideología 16(2): 133. Luer & Escobar 1984 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXXII Luer 2012 Luer drawing fide; Orchids A Colombian Treasure Vol 3 Ortiz & Uribe 2019 photo fide;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------