Stelis aberrans Luer & R.Vásquez 2018 SECTION Labiatae

TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer and Selbyana 32(1,2): 11 Luer & Vasquez 2018

EARLY

Common Name The Abberant Stelis [refers to its unusual petals and lip]

Flower Size .08" [2 mm]

Found in La Paz department of Bolivia at elevations of 1500 to 1600 meters as a mini-miniature to miniature sized, cool growing, caespitose epiphyte with erect slender ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3 thin, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrowly elliptic, acute, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the early summer on 3 to 4, erect, strict, peduncle less than .4" [1 cm] long, arising from a node below the apex of the ramicaul, arising through a spathe, rachis .8 to 1.2" [2 to 3 cm] long, congested, secund, mostly simultaneous, many flowered inflorescence with oblique, acute, shorter to as long as the pedicel floral bracts.

"This small, caespitose species is distinguished by a few, short inflorescences of small flowers with free, ovate sepals, the laterals being antrorse; oblong, single-veined petals; and a subcircular lip with an abrupt, triangular tip, and a pubescent callus at the base. The sepals appear single-veined but two additional, vestigial veins are present at the base. The petals are membranous, longer than wide and single-veined." Luer & Vasquez 2018

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Selbyana 32(1,2): 11 Luer & Vasquez 2018;

Selbyana 32(1,2): 128 Luer & Vasquez 2018 Drawing fide

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