Stelis fragilis Luer 2018 SECTION Stelis

Drawing by © Carl Luer and Selbyana 32(1,2): 51 Luer & Vasquez 2018

Common Name The Easily Broken Stelis [referring to the rehydrated sepals]

Flower Size .12" [3 mm]

Found in La Paz department of Bolivia at elevations around 1300 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing, caespitose epiphyte with erect relatively stout ramicauls enveloped by a tubular sheath below the middle and another at the base and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, acute to subacute, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the late spring on an erect, arising from within the cauline sheath, from near the apex of the ramicaul, peduncle 1.2 to 1.6" [3 to 4 cm] long, rachis 2 to 2.4" [5 to 6 cm] long, erect, strict, loose, simultaneously many-flowered inflorescence with tubular, acute, shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying light green flowers.

"This small species is distinguished by a loose, strict raceme of small, light green flowers with more or less concave sepals that are long-ciliate. Upon rehydration, the sepals are excessively fragile and difficult to expand without destruction, but the petals and lip are in satisfactory condition. The petals are simply three-veined, and the lip is transverse with a minute, acute apiculum. The glenion is a broad, deep cleft with raised margins, which may be exaggerated in a rehydrated specimen." Luer & Vasquez 2018

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

Selbyana 32(1,2): 51 Luer & Vasquez 2018

Selbyana 32(1,2): 140 Luer & Vasquez 2018 Drawing fide

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