Stelis obtecta Luer & Dalström 2007 SECTION Stelis
Drawing by Carl Luer
Common Name The Hidden Stelis [refers to the sheath covered ramicaul
Flower Size .12" [3 mm]
Found in Morona-Santiago province of Ecuador at elevations around 1600 meters as a miniature sized, densely caespitose, cool growing epiphyte with erect, stout ramicauls completely enveloped by a loose, tubular sheath from below the middle and another at the base and carrying a single, apical, erect, thickly coriaceous, elliptical, subacute to obtuse, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the fall on 1 occasionally 2, arising through a spathe from an annulus below the apex of the ramicual, erect, congested, distichous, 4.8 to 9.6" [12 to 24 cm] long including the 1.2 to 1.6 " [3 to 4 cm] long peduncle, simultaneously many flowered inflorescence with oblique, acute, shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying greenish brown flowers.
"Resembles S lindenii but differs in the shorter ramicauls that are completely covered by loose, tubular sheaths. The raceme is multifloral with small floral bracts. The flowers are also small with obtuse, minutely pubescent sepals. The petals are relatively thin and broadly flabellate. The type "A" lip is basically similar." Luer 2007
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXIX A Third Century of Stelis of Ecuador Systematics of Apoda-Prorepentia Luer 2007 drawing fide;
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