Stelis calyptrata Luer & Hirtz 2004 SECTION Stelis
Drawing by © Carl Luer and The Epidendra Website
Common Name The Calyptrate Stelis [refers to the sepaline cup filled with the central apparatus]
Flower Size .12” [3 mm]
Found in Napo province of Ecuador at elevations around 850 meters as a mini-miniature sized, warm growing, densely caespitose epiphyte with erect, slender ramicauls enveloped by 2 tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrowly linear-elliptical, acute, gradually narrowing below into the base leaf that blooms in the summer on an erect, sublax, subflexuous, 1.4” [3.5 cm] long including the .2” [5 mm] long peduncle, simultaneously several to many flowered inflorescence arising from below the apex of the ramicaul with oblique, acute, as long as the pedicel floral bracts.
"Characterized by the densely caespitose habit and narrowly linear leaves that bear shorter subflexuous racemes. The flower sre among the tiniest of the genus. The sepals appear to be single veined but accompanying veins are seen at the base. The sepals are connate into a broad and deep cup that is filled with the transveres petals column and lip. The petals are faintly three veined. The lip is discoid and apiculate, reminiscnet of S guianensis and S argentata.
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
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