Lepanthes scapha Luer & Hirtz 1996 SECTION Lepanthes SUBSECTION Lepanthes SERIES Mucronatae Luer 1996

TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website

EARLY

Common Name The Boat Lepanthes [refers to the shape of the appendix]

Flower Size .12" [3 mm]

Found in Imbabura province of Ecuador at elevations around 1250 to 1700 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with an erect to suberect, very slender ramicaul enveloped by 7 to 12, close fitting, glabrous lepanthiform sheaths with microscopically ciliate ostia carrying a single, apical, spreading , thinly coriaceous, narrowly ovate, acute to long-attenuate, rounded and contracted below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the early summer on 2, dimorphic, filiform, congested, distichous, one .64" the other .32 to .6" [ .8 to 1.5 cm] long, successively several flowered inflorescence arising on top of the leaf with lightly echinate floral bracts.

"This little species is very closely allied with the literally ubiquitous L mucronata of higher altitudes as well as its numerous allies typified by the marginal lobule between the lobes of the petals. L scapha is distinguished by the short marginal lobe of the petals, narrowly oblong connectives supporting the middle of the blades of the lip and a boat shaped appendix witha subacute prow." Luer 1996

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XIV Systematics of Draconanthes, Lepanthes subgenus Marsipanthes and subgenus Lepanthes of Ecuador Luer 1996 drawing fide; Flora of Ecuador No 88 Lepanthes and affiliates Dodson & Luer 2011 drawing fide

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