Stelis inaequalis Ames 1923 Drawing by Ames

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Common Name The Unequal Stelis

Flower Size .1" [2 mm]

Found in Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama in open fields and in forests at lower elevations as a mini-miniature sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with erect ramciauls enveloped by 1 to 2 tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse tridenticulate, narrowing below intothe short petiolate base leaf that blooms in the late spring on a racmose, distichous, [5 to6 cm] long, to 10 flowered inflorescence arising through an inconspicuous spathe with narrowly infundibular floral bracts and holding the flowers towards the apex.

CAUTION All current references cite this species as a synonym of S glossula but I have not seen a photo of that species that comes close to this drawing so I have left them separate awaiting better references or photos.

Synonyms Apatostelis inaequalis (Ames) Garay 1979;

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The Orchids of Panama L.O. Williams & P Allen 1946 drawing fide; Selbyana Vol 10 Orchids of Central America Hamer 1988 as Apatostelis inaequalis drawing fide; Orchidaceae Stelis Swartz A Compendium Duque 2008;

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