Pleurothallis austinrumleyi K.W.Holcomb 2024 SUBGENUS Pleurothallis SECTION Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae Lindl 1859

TYPE Photos by © K W Holcomb and Pleurothallidinae 3(5): 1 Holcomb 2024

Common Name Austin Rumley's Pleurothallis [American Named in honor of Austin Rumley of Atlanta, Georgia, a dear friend of the author Current]

Flower Size .4" [1 cm]

Found in Colombia without collection data as a mini-miniature sized, caespitose epiphyte with very slender, erect to suberect ramicauls enclosed by a thin tubular sheath below the middle and another at the base and carrying an apical, dark green, coriaceous, cordate, acute, the sessile base cuneate into the base leaf that blooms on a .4" [1 cm] long, successively single, flowered inflorescence, borne from a reclining spathaceous bract at the base of the leaf and carrying a resupinate flower.

"Pleurothallis austinrumleyi is a tiny, brightly colored species that falls within the very cluttered Pleurothallis bivalvis complex which, unfortunately, contains several distinct species. Of the species within the P. bivalvis complex, it is most similar to the Panamanian species, Pleurothallis antonensis. However, it is easily distinguished by its extremely long petals as well as its long, convex lip that is almost as long as the synsepal. The convex lip of P. austinrumleyi, like many other species in the P. bivalvis complex, has a raised bump on the underside of the lip at the apex that is typically referred to as a callus. However, a callus, by definition, is a mass of cells that forms over a wounded or cut plant. This structure is formed by the margins of the lip which have folded underneath forming a “leg” that renders the hinge at the base of the lip non-functional. The term “crusulum” which means “little leg” in Latin is proposed to refer to this structure." K.W.Holcomb 2024

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Pleurothallidinae 3(5): 1 Holcomb 2024 Photos fide

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