Pleurothallis pellucida Luer & Hirtz 1998 SUBGENUS Crocodeilanthe [Rchb.f & Warsc.]Luer 1986
TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer and The Epidendra Orchid Website
Common Name The Transparent Pleurothallis [refers to the sepaline tube]
Flower Size .4" [1 cm]
Found in Azuay province Ecuador in montane scrub at elevations around 3000 meters as a miniature sized, cold growing, densely caespitose epiphyte with fasciculate, erect ramicaul enveloped by a tubular sheath near the middle and 2 to 3 more at the base and carrying a single, apical, spreading, coriaceous, elliptical-oblong, subacute to obtuse, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the spring on a subdense, secund, arising through a slender spathe with an annulus,4.8 to 5.6" [12 to 14 cm] long, simultaneously many flowered inflorescence with a longer than the ovary floral bract.
"Found in high elevation semi-arid scrub terrain. It is closely allied to the P ligulata group this species is distinguished by the much broader, shortly petiolate leaves and a shorter raceme barely longer than the leaf. The semitubular flowers apparently do not open widely. The sepals are longer and transluscent greenish white which permits the dark purple petals and lip to shine through. The petals are broad, concave and 3 veined. The lip is oblong with calli below the middle, within the walls of the erect sides." Luer 1998
Synonyms Crocodeilanthe pellucida (Luer & Hirtz) Luer 2004; Stelis pellucida (Luer & Hirtz) Pridgeon & M.W.Chase 2001;
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XVI Systematics of Pleurothallis SUBGEN Crocodeilanthe, Rhynchopera and Talpinaria Luer 1998 drawing fide;
Lindleyana 16(4): 265. (Ames) Pridgeon & M.W. Chase 2001 as Stelis pellucida;
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 Crocodeilanthe pellucida
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