Pleurothallis sandemanii Luer 1996 SUBGENUS Talpinaria [Karst] Luer 1986
Photo courtesy of © Lourens Grobler
TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website
Common Name Sandeman's Pleurothallis [Original Collector of Species - Current]
Flower Size 3/5" [1.5 cm]
Found in Meta department of Colombia at elevations around 500 meters as a hot to warm growing, caespitose epiphyte with slender roots that give rise to slender, erect ramicaul with a close tubular sheath below the middle and 2 to 3 others basally and carries a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, obtuse, long-petiolate leaf that is cuneate below into the slender petiole and blooms in the spring on an ascending, arising from near the apex of the ramicaul, .4" to .72" [1 to 1.8 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence with a shorter than the pedicel floral bract.
"The elliptical leaves are remarkably long-petiolate. From near the base of the petiole solitary flowers arise from a conspicuous, foliaceous spathe. The relatively large, red-brown flowers, often produced in pairs, spread widely. The broad petals are held obliquely to either side while the ovate lip protrudes from the center." Luer 1996
A variable species in both color and form. They are most often yellow through brown and have an entire synsepal to slightly free lateral sepals.
Synonyms Talpinaria sandemanii (Luer) Luer 2004
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
* Orquideología 22: 222. Luer 1996 drawing fide;
Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 4 Dodson 2003 photo 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 Talpinaria sandemannii;
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