Stelis abdita Luer 2009 SECTION Humboldtia

Drawing by Carl Luer

Common Name The Hidden Stelis [refers to the central apparatus hidden within the flower]

Flower Size .04" [1 mm]

Found in Cotopaxi province of Ecuador at elevations around 3680 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cold growing, shortly repent epiphyte with relatively stout, erect ramicauls with a tubular sheath below the middle and 2 to 3 others at the base and carrying a single, apical, thickly coriaceous, narrowly elliptical, acute, gradually narrowing below into the subpetiolate base leaf that blooms in the winter on an apical, erect, subcongested, 1.4" [3.5 cm] long including the .4” [1 cm] long peduncle, several flowered inflorescence arising through a spathe from an annulus within the cauline sheath.

Distinguished by an erect, ascending habit; thick narrow leaves; and a slender raceme with promonent floral bracts with tiny orbicular flowers. Similar to S spathulatabut differs in the connivent, circular, concave sepals of S albita." Luer 2009

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXX Luer 2010

Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXX Luer 2010 drawing good;

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