Pleurothallis alexii A.H.Heller 1966 SUBGENUS Specklinia SECTION Hymenodanthae SUBSECTION Apodae-Caespitosae [Lindl.]Luer 1986
TYPE Drawing by © A H Heller
Common Name Alex's Pleurothallis [Named for Alex Hawkes orchid enthusiast 1900's]
Flower Size .08" [2 mm]
Found in Matagalpa department of Nicaragua at elevations around 1100 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing, shortly repent to caespitose epiphyte with slender, erect ramicauls enveloped by 2 thin, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, subacute, cuneate below into the indistinct petiolate base leaf that blooms in the fall on a congested, fascile of more or less horizontal, 2 to 2.8" [5 to 7 cm] long, successively single flowered inflorescence with thin, tubular, imbricating, shorter than the pedicel floral bracts.
"Characterized by the very shortly creeping rhizome and small elliptical leaves with short ramicauls. The flower is distinctive with the three acute apices of the sepals connivent, forming gaping lateral windows reminiscent of Phloeophila pleurothallopsis. The petals are acute with the labellar margin dilated. The lip is rounded at the apex with acute, marginal angles between the middle and basal third." Luer 2006
Synonyms Sarcinula alexii (A.H.Heller) Luer 2006; Specklinia alexii (A.H.Heller) Pridgeon & M.W.Chase 2001
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
* Phytologia 14(1): 8-9, t. 4 Heller 1966 Drawing fide;
Icones Plantarum Tropicarum Plate 1084 Heller 1984 drawing fide;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol III Systematics of Pleurothallis Luer 1986;
Lindleyana 16: 256 Pridgeon and Chase 2001 as Specklinia alexii;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII A Reconsideration of Masdevallia Systematics of Specklinia Luer 2006 as Sarcinula alexii
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII A Reconsideration of Masdevallia Systematics of Specklinia Luer 2006 as Sarcinula alexii drawing fide;
Pleurothallids Neotropical Jewels Vol 1 Karremans & Viera 2020 as Specklinia alexii photo fide
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