Lepanthopsis
(pronounced: leh-pan-THOP-siss)
Classification
Epidendreae subtribe Pleurothallidinae. Luer (1991) divided Lepanthopsis into two subgenera. Subgenus Lepanthopsis bears flowers with a transverse, bilobed stigma while subgenus Microlepanthes Luer bears flowers with an entire stigma. Subgenus Lepanthopsi
Overview
Miniature caespitose or occasionally trailing epiphytes. Ramicauls ascending to erect, enclosed by lepanthiform sheaths. Leaves one per ramicaul, shortly petiolate, with +/- denticulate margins, minutely notched at the apex with a central mucronule. Inflorescences racemes from near the apex of the ramicaul, the peduncle short to scapose, the rachis laxly flowered or densely flowered with the flowers strictly two-ranked, sometimes fractiflex (zig-zag), usually simultaneously flowering, the floral bracts minute. Flowers small to minute, usually +/- translucent. Sepals often acuminate-caudate, the lateral sepals fused for part of their length. Petals much smaller than the sepals, spreading. Lip unlobed or rarely three-lobed, sessile, usually auriculate with the auricle embracing the column. Column very short, with a hooded anther bed; pollinia 2, free or attached to a common viscidium.
Distribution
A genus of 40 species widespread in Central America, South America and the Greater Antilles.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Grow Lepanthopsis in small pots with a seedling grade mixture or on small slabs with a small amount of moisture retaining material at the roots. Grow them in cool-intermediate to cool temperatures with medium light levels. Water consistently during the year and do not allow the roots to dry out for any length of time.
Literature
Ames, O. 1933. A new genus of the Pleurothallidinae. Bot. Mus. Leafl. 1(9):1-31. Ames, O. 1938. An addition to the genus Lepanthopsis. Bot. Mus. Leafl. 6(4):70-71. Garay, L. A. 1953. A revision of the genus Lepanthopsis Ames. Orchid J. 2(10):467-469. Luer, C. A. 1991. Icones Pleurothallidinarum, VIII. Systematics of Lepanthopsis, Octomeria subgenus Pleurothallopsis, Restrepiella, Restrepiopsis, Salpistele and Teagueia, Addenda to Platystele, Porroglossum and Scaphosepalum. Monogr. Syst. Bot. 39:1-161. Schweinfurth, C. 1946. A pygmy among orchids. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 14(12):518-519.
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