Pleurothallis deserta Luer & R. Vásquez 1999 SUBGENUS Acianthera [Scheidw.] Luer 1986
Photo by © Eric Hunt
TYPE Drawings by Carl Luer
THROUGH EARLIER
Common Name The Abandoned Pleurothallis [refers to the road that the species was found on]
Flower Size 2/5" [1 cm]
Found in Morona-Santiago province of Ecuador and Cochabamba department of Bolivia in wet forests at elevations of 1000 to 1250 meters as a medium sized, cool growing, shortly repent epiphyte with stout, erect ramicauls enveloped basally by tubular, imbricating, acute sheaths and carries a single, apical, elliptical, acute leaf and blooms in the summer therough earlier fall from an annulus and holds a fascile of 1 to 1 1/2" [2.5 to 3.75 cm] long, successively few, several flowered inflorescence with shorter than the ovary floral bracts.
"Characterized by the large habit with a thick, shortly repent rhizome. Tall, stout ramicauls bear a large, ovate, leathery leaf. The raceme arises at the base of the leaf and lies on the dorsum. The sepals are green with thin purple veins on the synsepals. The petals are acute and finely fimbriate. The lip is thick with a rounded, minutely fimbriated margin. As with P decurrans a thick, longitudinal callus ends at the base." Luer 2004
Synonyms Acianthera deserta (Luer & R.Vásquez) Luer 2004
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
*Revista Soc. Boliv. Bot. 2: 139 Luer & R. Vásquez 1999 Drawing fide;
Orchids of Bolivia Vol 1 Pleurothallidinae Vasquez & Ibisch 2000 drawing good;
Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 4 Dodson 2003 photo ok;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVI Pleurothallis subgenus Acianthera and Three Allied subgenera, A Second Century of new Species of Stelis of Ecuador, Epibator, Ophidion and Zootrophion Luer 2004 as Acianthera deserta;
Pleurothallids Neotropical Jewels Vol 1 Karremans & Viera 2020 as Acianthera deserta photo fide
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