Pleurothallis quadricristata Luer & Hirtz 2003 SUBGENUS Acianthera [Scheidw.] Luer 1986
Photo by © Alexander Hirtz
Photo by © S Manning and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website
TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer
Common Name The Four Serrate Pleurothallis [refers to the 4 lined petals]
Flower Size 1/2" [1.25 cm] tall
Found in Zamora-Chinchipe province of Ecuador at elevations around 1200 meters as a small to just medium sized, warm growing, shortly repent epiphyte with slender, erect, ramicauls enveloped by a tubular sheath above the base and 2 to 3 others at the base and carrying a a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical-ovate, acute, cuneate below into the sessile base leaf that blooms in the summer on a reclining, arising through a spathe at the base of the leaf, congested, .6" [1.5 cm] long, simultaneously 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence with shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying yellow green flowers.
Similar to P quadriserrata but distinguished by the sessile leaves that area cordate at the base instead of cuneate. The leaves ae half the length of the ramicauls , while in P quadriserrata they are equal in length. The raceme is short and congested instead of loosely flexuosu. The lip is bicarinate witha pair of low rounded, marginal lobesabove the base. The lip of P quadriserrata has a pair of low calli with acute or subacute marginal angles below the middle." Luer 2004
CAUTION There are problems with the second photo [S Manning]determination above. The inflorescence is not short and congested, .6" [1.5 cm], there are more than 2 to 3 flowers and they are not simultaneous so please use with caution!!! The flowers do match Luers drawing in shape, but not the colors mentioned soooo maybe he only saw few flowered specimens with retarded inflorescence? The first photo is good in all respects other than the petals which do not seem to be visible.
Synonyms Acianthera quadricristata (Luer & Hirtz) Luer 2004
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
* Orquideologia Vol22 #3 2003 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 quadricristata;
Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko & Bermudez 2009 as Acianthera quadricristata photo good;
Pleurothallids Neotropical Jewels Vol 1 Karremans & Viera 2020 as Acianthera quadricristata photo fide
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