Pleurothallis eximia L.O.Williams 1942 SUBGENUS Acianthera [Scheidw.] Luer 1986

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

LATER EARLY

Common Name The Distinguished Pleurothallis

Flower Size .4" [1 cm]

Found in Oaxaca state of Mexico in lower montane rainforests and cloud forests at elevations of 1000 to 1970 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing, caespitose epiphyte with slender, erect ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3 loose tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, ovate, acute, broadly cuneate below into the sessile base leaf that blooms in the later winter and early spring on an erect to arching arising through a spathe at the base of the leaf, .6" [1.5 cm] long including the .28" [7mm] long peduncle, distichous, simultaneously 3 to 6 flowered inflorescence with as long as the ovary floral bracts.

"Characterized by the small habit with acute, ovate leaves somewhat longer than the ramicaul. The few flowered raceme is shorter than teh leaf. The dark purple sepals are thickly fleshy, the petals are narrowly linear and single veined and the lip is ovate and acute with denticulate margins and verrucose disc." Luer 2004

Synonyms Acianthera eximia (L.O.Williams) Solano 2002 publ. 2003; Physosiphon eximia (L.O.Williams) Garay 1974

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

Icones Orchidacearum 5-6 Plate 505 Hagsater & Soto 2002 as Acianthera eximia drawing fide;

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

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 drawing fide;

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 exima;

Orchids of Mexico Hagsater, Soto, Salazar, Jimenez Lopez & Dressler 2005 as Acianthera eximia

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