Pleurothallis lutheri (Luer & Endara) J.M.H.Shaw 2014 SUBGENUS Pleurothallis SECTION Macrophyllae-Fasciclatae Lindl. 1859

TYPE Drawing of Acronia lutheri by Carl Luer and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website

Common Name or Meaning Luther's Pleurothallis [American Bromeliad lover and collector of the type current]

Flower Size .8" [2 cm]

Found in Pichincha province of Ecuador in wet forests at elevations aroumd 900 meters as a large sized, warm growing, caespitose epiphyte with stout, erect ramicauls with a closetubular sheath below the middle and carrying a single, spreading, coriaceous, ovate, acute, slightly acuminate, sessile, shallowly cordate leaf that blooms in the winter on a short, peduncle .6 to .8" [1.5 to 2 cm] long, spathe .4" [1 cm] long, a fascile of successively single flowered inflorescence with a tubular, shorter than the ovary floral bract and carrying dark purple-brown flowers.

”This species is closely allied to P imperialis with which it grows sympatrically on the eastern slope of the Andes near Santo Domingo de los Colorados. P lutheri is distinguished by the large, spreading, ovate leaf that is acute apically,and shallowly cordate basally with several simultaneous, large, purple brown flowers that are borne on elongate pedicels 1.6 to 2" [4 to 5 cm] long. The sepals are obtuse and multi-veined, the petals are broad, convex with the medial thirds spiculate and in apposition beneath the lip. The lip is suborbicular with the deeply convex apex transversely rugose, involute and pointed.” Luer 2005

Synonyms *Acronia lutheri Luer & Endara 2005

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVII Systematics of Dryadella Systematics of Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae Luer 2005

Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVII Systematics of Dryadella Systematics of Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae Luer 2005 as Acronia lutheri drawing fide;

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