Stelis velutina Lindl. 1859 SUBGENUS Stelis Duque 2008

Flower Closeup Photo courtesy of Ralf Kappel from Leipzig Germany

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Common Name The Velvety Stelis [refers to the fine pubescence of the floral parts]

Flower Size 3/8" [9mm]

I am fairly sure that the photo is not Stelis velutina.

Found in Ecuador and Peru at elevations of 2000 to 3000 meters as a medium sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with elongate ramicauls enveloped by 1 to 2 short basal sheaths and a longer separate, tubular one in the upper third of the stem and carrying a single, apical, erect, ellipitc-oblong, obtuse to subacute, tridenticulate, narrowing below into the conduplicate, petiolate bse leaf that blooms in the fall on 1 to 2, racemose, subdistichous, [8 to 25 cm] long, densely many flowered inflorescence arising through a spathe with cucullate to infundibular, acute floral bractswith fragrant flowers

Synonyms Stelis hians Schltr. 1915

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchidaceae Stelis Swartz A Compendium Duque 2008

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