SITF Submissions and Findings

Lepanthes-inaequisepala-2021-08-21***Confirmed as Lepanthes inaequisepala (Sep 2021); although the photos of the flower were of minimum quality making identification difficult, based on Luer's drawing and the description which matches this plant, it is determined to be L. inaequisepala.***

Posted on Aug 21, 2021

Four slightly cupped non-resupinate flowers four buds on 5 suberect, flexous, successively several flowered, racemose inflorescences up to 17cm; longest upright ramicaul 0.1cm wide x 6.5cm long with 6...

Lepanthes-rudicula-2021-05-13***Confirmed as Lepanthes rudicula (Apr 2022); this species name and L. ridicula are only subtly different in spelling although both are valid, but different species; the subcircular, paddle-shaped leaves match the description of L. rudicula and this plant matches line drawing and photo of the leaf and flower of L. rudicula in the IOSPE and the SOF.***

Posted on May 13, 2021

Plant purchased from Ecuagenera.

Lepanthes-eltoroensis-2021-04-23***Confirmed as Lepanthes eltoroensis (Nov 2021); the description in the "Orchid Flora of the Greater Antilles" by James Ackerman has the ramicauls at 2-3 cm and leaf petioles at less than 1 cm; with the leaf blade at 1.8-2.4 cm long x 0.7-0.9 cm wide; this plant has leaves at 1.6 cm x 0.6 cm, which is close enough; according to the key, the sparse cilia on the sepals only occur on L. selenitepela, L. sanguinea or L. eltoroensis; and the slight connation between the sepals on the default photo favors L. eltoroensis over L. sanguinea; the flowers are not yellowish with red markings and the petals are not "semilunar" shaped, so it is not L. selenitepala.***

Posted on Apr 23, 2021

Luis Ortiz Endemic to one area of Puerto Rico (Luquillo Mountains) Jay Pfahi, www.orchidspecies.com, ISOPE WCSPF (Lepanthes eltoroensis Stimson, Brittonia 21:337 (1970) KEW (ID)

Lepanthes-alkaia-Cheryls-Joy-2021-04-12 *SITF has determined this plant not to be Lepanthes alkaia (Nov 2022); the length of the ramicauls do not reach the length of 2-4.5 cm as described for L. alkaia and the distinctive appendix on the lip is missing; the petals of this flower are glabrous vs. pillose in L. alkaia and the plant is large compared to L. alkaia; noted South American experts in the Pleurothallidinae, Alexander Hirtz, Francisco Tobar, and in Ecuagenera, agree this plant is not L. alkaia, but is currently an unrecognized species.*

Posted on Apr 12, 2021

Plant purchased from Ecuagenera. Intermediate growing.

Lepanthes-cordeliae-Cheryls-Joy-2021-02-16***Determined to be Lepanthes sijmii, not Lepanthes cordeliae (Nov 2021); the photos show the number and more prominent appearance of the veins in the sepals match L. sijmii; the flower size of 1.0 cm is too large for L. cordeliae (.3 cm); the inflorescence, when examined carefully, originates from the top of the leaf and then immediately turns under the leaf which fits the description of L. sijmii.***

Posted on Feb 16, 2021

Andy's Orchids. Origin: Peru

Lepanthes-genetaopophantica-2021-02-16***Determined to be Lepanthes nephridia, not Lepanthes genetaophantica (Jan 2022); this flower does not match the characteristics of L. genetaopophantica as well as it matches the L. nephridia photo by Hirtz in the IOSPE and Carl Luer's line drawing; the distinctive characteristic of L. nephridia is the pair of reniform lobes of the lip which fit this plant; in addition, there are multiple photos of L. nephridia including one by A.C. Hirtz in the orchidroots.com which closely match this plant.***

Posted on Feb 16, 2021

Lepanthes-cordeliae-2020-01-29***Confirmed as Lepanthes sijmii, not Lepanthes cordeliae (May 2020); the shape of the flower segments and flower size are wrong for L. cordeliae; the morphology better fits L. sijmii; L. cordeliae flowers from the backside of the leaf carrying the entire inflorescence under the leaf; L. sijmii flowers from the front side of the leaf, as does this plant; the description and drawing of L. sijmii can be found in Selbyana, Vol. 23, No.1 (2002), pg. 22 and the description and drawing of L. cordeliae can be found in Lindleyana, Vol. 7-02 (1992), pg. 103.***

Posted on Jan 29, 2020

20194767 Lepanthes cordeliae `KBCC’ CBR/AOS (may be synonymous with Lepanthes sijmii?) Twelve flowers and 40 buds on 17 sequentially flowering inflorescences on an 8cm pot; sepals semi-translucent t...

Lepanthes-lophius-2020-01-21***Confirmed as Lepanthes lophius (Mar 2020); Sheaths fit description for L. lophius: slender ramicauls enveloped by 10-14 ciliate, lepanthiform (funnel-shaped) sheaths with markedly dilated ostia; flower size reasonable for species; purple coloration under leaves fits description; excellent matches to photos in OW and in  Dodson's Native Orchids of Ecuador and the drawing in Luer's Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIV.***

Posted on Jan 21, 2020

One flower and fifteen buds on eleven successively-blooming inflorescences to 2.7 cm on a 24-growth plant, 12.0 x 10.0 cm, grown in sphagnum moss in a 7.0-cm plastic pot; raumicauls to 6.0 cm, envelop...

Lepanthes-setifera-2020-01-13***Determined not to be Lepanthes setifera (Nov 2020), but an unidentified species; ramicauls of his plant have five or six lepanthiform sheaths; L. setifera has 12-15 lepanthiform (tubular, flared) sheaths on the ramicauls and the inflorescence of L. setifera is covered in pronounced bristles, which are not present in this plant; the photos of this plant and flowers are not of sufficient resolution, focus and details to make a positive identification of the species.*** 

Posted on Jan 13, 2020

This came from Juan Felipe Posada at Colomborquideas Ltd. This shows up in Jay Pfhals orchid species #833 under Lepanthes. Please note the Clonal name should be Orkiddoc not Orkidoc. Thanks for your ...