Pleurothallis ornata Rchb.f. 1882 SUBGENUS Specklinia SECTION Effusae Lindl. 1842 Photo by Scott McGregor

Color variationPhoto courtesy of Weyman Bussey

MID

Common Name The Ornate Pleurothallis

Flower Size 1/2" [1.25 cm]

Found in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador as a mini-miniature sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte at elevations of 1500 to 2500 meters with erect ramicauls enveloped by 2 basal sheaths and carrying a single apical, erect, coriaceous leaf that blooms on a apical, single successive flowered, 2" [4 to 5 cm] long, fractiflex inflorescence that holds the successive opening, single flowers amid or just above the leaves occuring in the winter through mid summer. Cool temperatures, shade, and high humidity as well as mounting on tree fern, and good air movement assure a happy plant.

For years this species has been confused with P schiedei and P villosa which are synomonous, with P villosa taking precedence, but it does not have lamellae, only long pubescence within the flower so niether can be P ornata. Knowles & Westcott described P villosa as a plant 4" high, a flexuous scape and at each bend bearing a wooly and purple spotted flower. No mention of appendages or lamellae which most modern references show as P schiedei but are actually P ornata. Rchb.f in his description of P schiedei states that it is a wooly flower which would eliminate it as a candidate for what we now know as P ornata. Rchb.f described P ornata as having short ramicauls and with conspicuous, unique, clavate appendages on the sepal margins.

Synonyms Effusiella ornata Luer 2007; Specklinia ornata (Rchb. f.) Luer 2004; Stelis ornata (Rchb. f.) Pridgeon & M.W. Chase 2001

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Die Orchideen #7 25-28 tafel 8 Rudolph Schlechter 1971 photo not = P truncata; Flora Novo-Galaciana Vol 16 Orchidaceae Mc Vaugh 1985 as P schiedei not =P ornata; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XX Luer 2000 drawing fide; Lindleyana Vol 16 No 4 2001 as Stelis ornata; Icones Orchidacearum 5-6 Plate 689 Hagsater & Soto 2002 as Stelis ornata drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVI Luer 2004 as Specklinia ornata; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXIX Luer 2007 as Effusiella ornata

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