Pleurothallis millipeda Luer 1996 SUBGENUS Specklinia SECTION Muscosae Lindl. 1842

TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer The Epidendra Website

Common Name or Meaning The Millipede Pleurothallis [refers to the appearance of the lip]

Flower Size .2" [5 mm]

Found most likely in Colombia at an unknown locality and elevation as a mini-miniature sized, warm to cool growing, densely caespitose epiphyte with slender, erect ramicauls enveloped by a loose ribbed, tubular sheath and carrying a single, apical, erect, rigid, coriaceous, obovate, obtuse, cuneate below into the ill defined petiolate base leaf that blooms on an erect, arising laterally from the ramicaul, loose, 1.6 to 3.2" [4 to 5 cm] long including the .8" [2 cm] long peduncle, successively single, 4 to 6 flowered inflorescence with shorter than the pedicel floral bract.

"The tiny tuft of obovate leaves is no different from many other allied species. The dark purple flowers are borne in loose racemes that far surpass the leaves. The sepals are narrowly ovate and acute amd the laterals are connate to above the middle. The petals are obliquely dilated above the base, then contracted into a long, cellular, filiform apex. The lip is straight, narrowly linear and densely long ciliate above the middle, possibly in disguise as a milliped to attract a pollinator." Luer 2006

This orchid has not been found again since Lehmann made an undated collection and the location is in doubt even if it had been collected in Colombia or elsewhere.

Synonyms Anathallis millipeda (Luer) Luer 2009; Lankesteriana millipeda (Luer) Karremans 2014; Panmorphia millipeda (Luer) Luer 2006; Specklinia millipeda (Luer) Luer 2004

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Orquideología 20: 216–217. Luer 1996 drawing fide;

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 Specklinia millipeda;

Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVI A Reconsideration of Masdevallia Systematics of Specklinia Luer 2006 as Panmorphia millipeda drawing fide;

Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXX Lepanthes of Jamaica Systematics of Stelis of Ecuador 4 Luer 2009 as Anathallis millipeda;

LANKESTERIANA 13(3): 319—332 Kerremans 2014 as Lankesteriana millipeda;

AOS Bulletin Vol 84 #5 2015 as Lankestriana millipeda;

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