Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Acianthera saundersiana (Jul 2026). It agrees with the description in the Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXVI, as a Pleurothallis. The Icones is a 2004 botanical monograph by Carlyle A. Luer Pg. 64, which covers the Pleurothallis Subgenus Acianthera and three allied subgenera. It also matches the Luer drawing found on the IOSPE.
Number Of Leaves Per Growth Or Cane: 1
Leaf Length: 5.0
Leaf Width: 2.0
Leaf Margin: entire
Leaf Shape: elliptical
Pseudobulb Length: 4.0
Pseudobulb Width: 0.2
Pseudobulb Margin: entire
Pseudobulb Distance: 5.0
Pseudobulb Root Tip: green
Inflorescence Overall Length: 0.7
Ovary Length: 0.2
Ovary Width: 0.1
Ovary Shape: terete
Ovary Color: pale chartreuse with maroon ribs longitudinally
Ovary Texture: ribbed
Flower Natural Spread Length: 1.0
Flower Natural Spread Width: 0.7
Dorsal Sepal Length: 1.3
Dorsal Sepal Width: 0.5
Lateral Sepals Length: 1.0
Lateral Sepals Width: 0.7
Petals Width: 0.1
Judging Center: Great Plains Judging Center
Award Number: 20263205
Award Date: January 17, 2026
Awarded As: CHM
Four cupped flowers on four inflorescence to 0.7cm long emerging from front surface of the leaf, plant 22.0cm wide x 38.0cm long growing on a piece of cholla 4.0cm wide x 29.0cm long, rambling type plant, largest leaf 2.0cm wide x 5.0cm long, elliptical, coriaceous, margins entire, medium green with maroon midrib, longest ramicaul 0.2cm wide x 4.0cm long, terete, green, dry brown sheath on basal one-half to one-third, 5.0 cm between ramicauls, root tips green; dorsal sepal narrowly oblong, transparent with five purple veins, distal one-third ochre; lateral sepals fused, translucent pale yellow centrally, gold on lateral margins, purple spots coalescing to veins basal one-half, random purple spots on distal one-half, bifid tip; petals obovate, appressed to column, transparent with three maroon veins, very pale yellow distal one-half; lip oblong, thick, yellow stippled dark maroon, verrucose, denticulate; column 0.1cm wide x 0.4cm long, pale chartreuse with light purple stripes on distal one-third, anther cap pale yellow; ovary 0.1cm wide x 0.2cm long, chartreuse with maroon ribs longitudinally; substance firm, texture crystalline, species from SE Brazil; ID by SITF on ____________________.Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXVI, Orchid of Bolivia Volume 1, p 338.