Pleurothallis spathosa Luer & R.Escobar 1996 SUBGENUS Crocodeilanthe [Rchb.f & Warsc.]Luer 1986
TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website
LATER 
Common Name The Large Spathe Pleurothallis
Flower Size .2" [5mm]
Found in Santander department of Colombia at elevations around 3300 meters as a small to medium sized, cold growing, densesly caespitose epiphyte with fasciculate, stout, erect ramicauls enveloped by a large, loose tubular sheath near the middle and another 2 to 3 tuublar, imbricating sheaths at the base and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, subacute to obtuse apically, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the later spring on 1 to 4, simultaneous, more or less secund, arising through a large, conduplicate, foliaceous spathe from an annulus at the base of the leaf below the abscission layer, 4.8 to 6" [12 to 15 cm] long including the 1.6" [4 cm] long peduncle, densely and simultaneously many flowered inflorescence with as long as the ovary floral bract.
"Vegetatively this species resembles P laevigata with stout ramicauls with long, inflated sheaths, large sessile leaves and a very large, foliacous spathe. The inflorescence however is very similar to P velaticaulis with small flowers with obtuse floral parts, three veined petals and a three lobed lip with obtuse lateral lobes overlaid by rounded calli. Most distinctive of the lip is the narrow, transverse callus that separates the disc from the basal cavity." Luer 1998
Synonyms Crocodeilanthe spathosa (Luer & R.Escobar) Luer 2004; Stelis spathosa (Luer & R.Escobar) Pridgeon & M.W.Chase 2001
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
*Orquideologia 20: 86 Luer & Escobar 1996 drawing/photo fide;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XVI Systematics of Pleurothallis SUBGEN Crocodeilanthe, Rhynchopera and Talpinaria Luer 1998 drawing fide;
Lindleyana Vol 16 No 4:266 Pridgeon & M.W.Chase 2001 as Stelis spathosa;
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 spathosa
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