Pleurothallis superbiens Luer 1994 SUBGENUS Elongatia SECTION Elongatia Luer 1986
Drawing by © Carl Luer and The Epidendra Orchid Website
Common Name The Very Nice Pleurothallis
Flower Size .4" [1 cm]
Found in Carchi province of Ecuador at elevations around 1400 meters as a medium sized, warm growing, densely caespitose epiphyte with a stout, erect ramicaul with a purple spotted tubular sheath below the middle and 2 others at the base and carrying a single, apical, erect, thickly coriaceous, elliptical ovate, subacute, rounded below into the sessile base leaf that blooms 1 and occasionally 2, suberect to arching, loose, subsecund, to 8.8" [22 cm] long, simultaenosuly several flowered inflorescence arising a slender spathe at the base of the leaf with innfundibular, acute, shorter than the pedicel floral bracts.
"It is closely related to Pleurothallis restrepioides Lindl. 1837 which is common a short distance to the north. Pleurothallis superbiens is distinguished by the larger, broadly ovate leaf round at the base, and with similar, loose racemes of large flowers. The dorsal sepals and synsepals are slightly narrower and acuminate. The petals are broad and obtuse. The lip is concave below the mid-dle with a distinct, central, longitudinal callus that is attached to the column-foot. Above the middle the surface of the lip is densely and coarsely papillose at the place where the margins become revolute. The papillae continue below along the revolute margins." Luer 1994
Synonyms Elongatia superbiens (Luer) Luer 2004
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
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 Elongatia superbiens
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------