ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

III

SYSTEMATICS
OF

PLEUROTHALLIS
(ORCHIDACEAE)
Publication of MSB-17, MSB-18, and MSB-19 has been delayed. We are, however,

releasing MSB-20, "Systematics of Pleurothallis (Orchidaceae),” at this time.

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ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

III

SYSTEMATICS
OF

PLEUROTHALLIS
CARLYLE A. LUER

Missouri Botanical Garden

MONOGRAPHS IN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
from the Missouri Botanical Garden
Volume 20, November 1986.
ISSN 06161-1542

Copyright ©1986 by \

Carlyle A. Luer
3222 Old Oak Drive
Sarasota, FL 33579

Printed in the United States of America by

 CONTENTS

Abstract. 1
Introductory discussion.2
Key to the subgenera of Pleurothallis.5
List of illustrations.8
Taxonomy of Pleurothallis.11
Acknowledgements.100
References.100
Index to scientific names. 101
Addenda et corrigenda for Systematics of Masdevallia 109
 hlamys Schltr.
Province of Pichir a, Ecuador, alt. 27001 ,10 Mar. 1976.
 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

After the description of each taxon, representative species are listed,

but some of the lists are far from complete. Many old as well as recent
descriptions and even illustrations are inadequate for determination of
relationships. They often fail to give the critical, diagnostic criteria
necessary for classification. It is not the scope of this paper to classify
every species of Pleurothallis. Many species of the larger subgeneric
taxa are not included in the lists, but from an acquaintance with the
species given, similar species can be classified. Much work needs to be
done. This is only a beginning.
The subgenera of Pleurothallis and all the genera of the Pleurothalli-
dinae may be loosely grouped into three affinities. First, those with a
short (but sometimes elongate) column with an apical anther and
stigma, often connate lateral sepals, and an inflorescence that emerges
from the ramicaul with or without a visible annulus (aff. Pleurothallis).
Second, those with an elongate (but sometimes short) column with a
ventral anther and stigma, more or less covered by a toothed, winged or
hooded apex, free or variously connate sepals, and an inflorescence that
emerges from the ramicaul with an annulus (aff. Specklinia). Third,
those with a column resembling the last, sepals connate in varying
degrees, and an inflorescence that emerges without an annulus (aff.
Acianthera). Figure 1. is a diagrammatic presentation of some possible
relationships of the pleurothallid genera to the subgeneric divisions in
the three “affinities.”

“Affinity” Specklinia
The subgenera of Pleurothallis:

Empusella
Mirabilia
Mystax
Physosiphon
Physothallis
Pseudoctomeri
Restrepioidia
Specklinia

Dresslerella Condylago
Myoxanthui Dracula
Octomeria Dryadella
Lepanthopsis
Platystele
Pleurothallis Pleurothallis
Porroglossum Scaphosepalum
Salpistele Trichosalpinx
Stelis subgen. Trichosalpinx
Trichosalpinx sect. Tubella
sect. Apodae Trisetella
sect. Pseudolepanthes Zootrophion
 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Subgen. Acianthera
Sect. Brachystachyae Pleurothallis pubescens Lindl. Plate 1.
Sect. Cryptophoranthae Pleurothallis fenestrata
Barb. Rodr. Plate 2.
Sect. Phloeophilae Pleurothallis peperomioides
Ames Plate 3.
Sect. Sicariae
Subsect. Pectinatae Pleurothallis prolifera
Herb, ex Lindl. Plate 4.
Subsect. Sicariae Pleurothallis alpina Ames Plate 5.
Sect. Tomentosae Pleurothallis aurantiolateritia
Speg.
Sect. Tricarinatae Pleurothallis boliviana
Rchb.f. Plate 7.
Subgen. Aenigma
Sect. Aenigmata Pleurothallis ibex Luer Plate 8.
Sect. Ve8tigipetalae Pleurothallis vestigipetala
Luer Plate 9.
Subgen. Ancipitia Pleurothallis vorator
Luer & V&squez Plate 10.
Subgen. Andreettaea Pleurothallis ocellus
(Luer) Luer Plate 11.
Subgen. Apoda-Prorepentia
Pleurothallis calypso Luer Plate 12.
Subgen. Arthrosia Pleurothallis auriculata Lindl. Plate 13.
Subgen. Crocodeilanthe Pleurothallis expansa Lindl. Plate 14.
Subgen. Dracontia Pleurothallis dracontea Luer Plate 15.
Subgen. Dre&slera Pleurothallis dressleri Luer Plate 16.
Subgen. Elongatia Pleurothallis janetiae Luer Plate 17.
Subgen. Empusella Pleurothallis endotrachys
Rchb.f. Plate 18.
Subgen. Kraenzlinella Pleurothallis erinacea Rchb. f. Plate 19.
Subgen. Masdevalliantha Pleurothallis masdevalliopsis
Luer Plate 20.
Subgen. Mirabilia Pleurothallis mirabilis Schltr. Plate 21.
Subgen. Mirandia Pleurothallis miranda Luer Plate 22.
Subgen. Mystax Pleurothallis mystax Luer Plate 23.
Subgen. Physosiphon Pleurothallis tubata
(Lodd.)Steud. Plate 24.
Subgen. Physothallis Pleurothallis neoharlingii Luer Plate 25.
Subgen. Pleurobotryum Pleurothallis crepiniana Cogn. Plate 26.
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS 9

Pleurothallis wigginsii
C. Schweinf. Plate 27.
Sect. Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae
Pleurothallis fornix
Sect. Pleurothallis Luer & Escobar Plate:
Subsect. Acroniae Pleurothallis stricta Luer Plate:
Subsect. Macrophyllae-Racemosae
Pleurothallis magnifica
Subsect. Pleurothallis Luer & EscobarPlate 30.
Series Longiracemosae
Pleurothallis hippocrepica
Luer & Escobar
Series Pleurothallis Pleurothallis ruscifolia
(Jacq.) R. Br. Plate 32.
Sect. Truncatae Pleurothallis truncata Lindl. Plate 33.
Subgen. Pseudoctomeria Pleurothallis lentiginosa
Lehm. & Krzl. Plate
Subgen. Restrepioidia Pleurothallis hemirhoda Lindl. Plate
Subgen. Rhynchopera Pleurothallis fastidiosa Luer Plate
Subgen. Rubellia Pleurothallis rubella Luer Plate
Subgen. Sarracenella Pleurothallis sarracenia Luer Plate
Subgen. Scopula Pleurothallis penicillata Luer Plate
Subgen. Specklinia
Sect. Acuminatae Pleurothallis regalis Luer Plate 40.
Sect. Cucumeres Pleurothallis cucumeris Luer Plate 41.
Sect. Effusae Pleurothallis trichostoma Luer Plate 42.
Sect. Hymenodanthae
Subsect. Apodae-Caespitosae
Pleurothallis areldii Luer Plate 43.
Subsect. Longicaulae Pleurothallis grobyi
Batem. ex Lindl Plate 44.
Sect. Mentosae Pleurothallis determannii Luer Plate 45.
Sect. Muscarine Pleurothallis hastata Ames Plate 46.
Sect. Muscosae Pleurothallis pachyphyta Luer Plate 47.
Sect. Tribuloides Pleurothallis tribuloides
(Sw.) Lindl. Plate 48.
Sect. Tripteranthae Pleurothallis tripterantha
Rchb. f. Plate 49.
Sect. Unciferae Pleurothallis pompalis Ames Plate 50.
Subgen. Talpinaria Pleurothallis talpinaria
(Karst.) Rchb. f. Plate 51.
Subgen. Xenion Pleurothallis xenion
Luer & Escobar Plate 52.
10 ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Figure 2. Aj sketch of a Pleurothallis.

12
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 1. Pleurothallis pubescens Lindl.

 ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Pleurothallis subgen. Acianthera sect. Cryptophoranthae Luer,

nom. nov.
Type: Cryptophoranthus fenestratus Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch.
Nov. 2:80,1882. (Pleurothallis fenestrata Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp.
Orch. Nov. 1:12,1877)
Ety.: From the Greek cyrptophoranthos, “hidden flower,” referring to
the short racemes from short ramicauls.
Syn.: Cryptophoranthus Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:79,1882.
Lectotype: Cryptophoranthus fenestratus Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:80,1882.
(Pleurothallis fenestrata Barb. Rodr.) (Acufia, Tel. Bol. 60:115,1939)

The distinguishing feature of the genus Cryptophoranthus, as typi¬

fied by the Brazilian C. fenestratus, is the connation of the dorsal sepal
with the synsepal, both at the apex and below the middle so that a pair
of lateral windows is created for the entrance of a pollinator into the
interior of the flower. Apparently the union is not always solidly con¬
nate, but lightly coherent, and the apices are even free in a few species
that have been attributed to Cryptophoranthus. Similar window-
contrivances have developed independently in several other more dis¬
tantly related species of Pleurothallis [P. alexii A. H. Heller and P.
tribuloides (Sw.) Lindl.] and the genera Ophidion and Zootrophion.
Pleurothallis spathuliglossa Hoehne is illustrated with lateral windows
and connivent apices of the sepals. The latter needs to be transferred to
Trichosalpinx*
After the removal from Cryptophoranthus of basically different spe¬
cies to Ophidion and Zootrophion, I do not believe that Cryptophoran¬
thus can be maintained at the generic level because of the inconsis¬
tency of the connation of the apices of the sepals, and the vegetative
and floral similarity of the remaining species to those in P. subgen.
Acianthera.
Vegetatively the plants of this section are caespitose or repent, with
abbreviated or elongated ramicauls, petiolate leaves, and a fascicle of
solitary flowers or short, congested racemes that emerge laterally from
the stem below the apex (the leaf-stem abscission layer) without an
annulus, but sometimes with a faint, annular swelling. The flower
parts are compatible with P. subgen. Acianthera.
The species are primarily Brazilian in distribution. The following
new names and transfers become necessary:
nifolia Luer, nom. nov.
minimus Cogn., FI. Bras. 3(4):552,1906, non P. r a C. Schweinf.
1925.
Pleurothallis neojordanensis Luer, nom nov
CryptopBrade, Arq. Serv. Florest. 1(1):41,1939, non P. jordan-
Pleurothallis neojuergensii Luer, nom. nov
Cryptophoranthus juergensii Schltr., Repert. Beih. 35:46,1925, non P.juergensii Schltr.
Pleurothallis punctatiflora Luer nom nov
CwlopW»„,te Cta,us Bari). Rodr., Rev. EnKenh. 3, n. 9,1881 et Gen. Sp. Orch.
S;2l5)»,S,,■Ker l823' ■* Undl-1835'B”b
isssr...
^=oKS‘
Plate 2.

m.

1919

I5SSE:
 ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Plate 2. Pleurothallis fenestrata Barb. Rodr.

SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS
 ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Pleurothallis subgen. Acianthera sect. Sicariae Lindl., Folia

Orchid. Pleuroth. 12,1859.
Type: Pleurothallis sicaria Lindl., Edwards’ Bot. Reg. 27(Misc.):91,
1841.
Ety.: From the Latin sicarius, “a knife-wielding assassin,” in refer¬
ence to the shape of the leaf and stem.

In this section the ramicaul is sharply laterally compressed. Two

subsections may be recognized: one with three-winged or three-edged
ramicauls, the other with the compression of the ramicaul so extreme
that it is essentially two-edged.
The inflorescence is similar to that of sect. Brachystachyae.

Subsect. Pectinatae Luer, subsect. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis pectinata Lindl., Edwards’ Bot. Reg. 25(Misc.):l,

This subsection of a few Brazilian species, some of which range as

far as Bolivia and Venezuela, is characterized by ramicauls so
markedly compressed that they appear two-edged, similar to the com¬
pressed ramicauls of the species that compose the subgen. Ancipitia.
The adaxial margin of the flattened ramicaul is minutely or slightly
sulcate below the junction with the leaf.

P. limae Porto & Brade

P. modestissima Rchb. f. & Wai
P. pectinata Lindl.
P. prolifera Herb, ex Lindl.
P wels-windischii Pabst

Subsect. Sicariae (Lindl.) Luer, stat. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis sicaria Lindl.
Bas.: Pleurothallis sect. Sicariae Lindl., Folia Orchid. Pleuroth. 12,

This subsection is characterized by triquetrous ramicauls. The wings

lthrrPreSSed.ur—18 are un developed and sharp, and they
are continuous with the margins of the blade of the leaf above. Often
°f thC 6afuare dfurrent on the ramicaul so that the inflo¬
rescence may emerge above the base of the leaf.
s«fe species in subgen. Arthrosia are similarly
but the articulated lips immediately distinguish this latter
 SYSTEMATICS PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 4. Pleurothallis prolifera Herb, ex Lindl.

usaa?'
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 5. Pleurothallis alpina Ames

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 6. Pleurothallis aurantiolatent

Plate 7. Pleurothallis boliviano Rchb. f.
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 8. Pleurothallis ibex Luer

 ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Plate 9. Pleurothallis uestigipetala Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Pleurothallis subgen. Ancipitia Luer, subgen. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis anceps Luer, Selbyana 5:159,1979.
Ety.: From the Latin anceps, “two-headed,” referring to the laterally
compressed ramicaul.
Ramicaules compr« tetragoni. Flores solitarii fascicul
gipedunculati. Sepala
Labella multiformia t

This subgenus is characterized by the sharply laterally compressed

ramicauls, two-edged except in one species that is four-edged. The
leaves are cordate and sessile. The solitary flowers are long-pedicellate
and produced in a fascicle at the base of the leaf. No annulus is present.
The sepals are more or less membranous, the laterals connate. The
petals are thickened toward the apex, and the lips are diversely modi¬
fied, often into bizarre shapes resembling insects or the heads of ani¬
mals with ears or horns. The column may be short or long, stout or
slender, sometimes lightly winged or toothed. The anther may be apical
or subapical, usually partially exposed. The column-foot may be short
and thick or essentially absent. In spite of the extreme variations in the
morphology of the lips and column, this group of species is homogene¬
ous in the morphology of the ramicauls, leaves, peduncles, sepals and
petals. Perhaps it could be said that the group is homogeneous in the
heterogeneousness of the lips and columns. This is an example of how
obviously closely allied species can differ so widely in modifications of
basic organs.
In subgen. Acianthera sect. Sicaria subsect. Pectinatae the ramicauls
are similarly compressed, but the fleshy flowers, typical of the subgen.
Acianthera, are produced in a raceme. The ramicauls of some species of
subgen. Pleurothallis sect. Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae are lightly com¬
pressed, but if so, without two sharp edges.
The species are distributed from Central America through the Andes.

P. duplex Luer & Escobar

P. eumecocaulon Schltr.
Pgratiosa Rchb. f.
P. harpago Luer
rides Luer & V&squ<

r Luer & Vasquez .

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 10. Pleurothallis vorator Luer & V&squez

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 11. Pleurothallis ocellus (Luer) Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 12. Pleurothallis calypso Luer

f
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 13. Pleurothallis auriculata Lindl.

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Syn.: Pseudostelis Schltr., Anexos Mem. Inst. Butantan Secc. Bot. 1(4):36, 1922.
Lectotype here designated: Stelis deregularis Barb. Rodr. This species, the type of
Stelis sect. Tubuliflorae Barb. Rodr., is chosen from three listed by Schlechter
for Pseudostelis.
Ety.: From the Greek pseudo-, “false,” referring to the similarity of the species to those
of the genus Stelis.
The numerous species of this subgenus, widely distributed in the
Neotropics, are usually large and robust. The stout ramicauls (with few
exceptions) are densely fasciculate with large, papery, inflated sheaths,
the lower sheaths often surrounding several stems. The rhizome of R
orectopus is long-repent. The ramicauls of some species are prolific.
The leaf is either sessile or petiolate.
One to many racemes emerge laterally with a spathe that is usually
conspicuous and foliaceous below or very near the apex of the ramicaul
and associated with a distinct annulus. The lateral sepals, commonly
pubescent within, are connate or semiconnate. The petals are mem¬
branous, short, entire, obtuse to rounded. The lip, whether one-, two- or
three-lobed, usually has a pair of calli somewhere near the middle or on
the lateral lobes if present. The broad base is more or less concave
below a transverse bar, but sometimes this feature is obscure. The
column is short with an exposed apical or subapical anther and
stigma. The thick, short base of the column is more or less bulbous and
articulates with the cavity at the base of the lip, reminiscent of the
ball-and-socket articulation seen in the genus Barbosella. In some spe¬
cies (e.g. P. cauliflora and P. xiphizusa) the articulation is “ankylosed,”
i.e., the parts of the joint more or less adnate and immobile. This iso¬
lated feature had been used to distinguish Reichenbach’s genus Croco-
deilanthe. Occasionally the lip seems to be merely broadly hinged to
the column-foot.

P. mickloivii Luer & Vasquez

P. moritzii Rchb. f.
P. nivalis Luer
P orectopus Luer
P. palmiformis Lindl.
P. pichinchae Rchb. f.
P. pleiostachys Schltr.
P.pristis Lehm.&Krzl.
P. procera Luer & Vasquez
P. floribunda Poepp. & Endl. P. quadrata C. Schweinf.
P. fons florum Lindl. P quinquicallosa Luer
P. galeata Lindl.
P. helleri Hawkes
P. hopfiana Schltr. P simplicilabia C. Schweinf.
P. laevigata Lindl. P sodiroi Schltr.
P lamprochlamys Schltr. P stelidiopsis Luer
P leopardina Luer P tanyrhina Luer & Escobar
P. ligulata Lindl.
P. magdalenae Rchb. f.
P. mandonii Rchb. f.
P. maxima Luer P velaticaulis Rchb. 1
P- melanostele Luer & Vdsqu<
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 14. Pleurothallis expansa

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 15. Pleurothallis dracontea Luer

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 16. Pleurothallis dressleri Luer

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 17. Pleurothallis janetiae Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALUS

Plate 18. Pleurothallis endotrachys Rchb.

SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS
 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 20. Pleurothallis masdevalliopsis Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Pleurothallis subgen. Mirabilia Luer, subgen nov.

Type: Pleurothallis mirabilis Schltr., Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-
Dahlem 7:274,1981.
Ety.: From the Latin m/ra£u7zs,“wonderful, strange,” referring to the
most unusual flower.
[Syn.: Pabstiella Brieg. & Sengh., Die Orchideen 429,1975, nomen invalid.]

Sepala cum pede longissimo columnae in mentum profundum formantia. Unguis

labelli longissimus ad pedem columnae connatus.
An unusual Brazilian species, distinguished by an exceedingly long
column-foot to which an exceedingly long claw of the lip is firmly
united, constitutes this subgenus of Pleurothallis. The plant is small
and caespitose with slender ramicauls. The long, multi-flowered
racemes of white, long-chinned flowers are produced from the ramicaul
with an annulus. The column is elongate with a ventral anther and
stigma. The inflexibly connate claw of the lip to the column-foot sets
this species apart from subgen. Specklinia.
Species: P. mirabilis Schltr..Plate 21.

Pleurothallis subgen. Mirandia Luer, subgen. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis miranda Luer, Phytologi 46:369,1980.
Ety.: From the Latin mirandus, “strange, causing wonder, alluding
to the unusual characters of the species.

The unusual species segregated into this monotypic subgenus is

characterized by a well-developed ramicaul and an ovate leaf with a
long, twisted petiole. The fascicle of single flowers emerges from a con¬
spicuous spathe with an annulus. The sepals are connate into a concave
synsepal with a pair of lunate calli in the center. The apices of the petals
are remarkably cucullate. The lip is subquadrate and acutely deflexed
upon itself and attached to the base of a footless column with an apical
anther and stigma.
 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 21. Pleurothallis mirabilis Schltr.

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALUS

Plate 22. Pleurothallis miranda Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 23. Pleurothallis mystax Luer

 ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Plate 24. Pleurothallis tubata (Lodd.) Schltr.

111 If SI mi I **m
 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 25. Pleurothallis neoharlingii Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 26. Pleurothallis crepiniana Cogn.

KEY TO THE SECTIONS AND SUBSECTIONS OF SUBGEN. PLEUROTHALLIS
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Pleurothallis subgen. Pleurothallis sect. Abortivae Luer, sect. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis abortiva Luer, Phytologia 47:72,1980.
Ety.: From the Latin abortivus, “abortive,” referring to the obsoles¬
cent column-foot.

The species of this section are closely allied to subgen. Ancipitia. The
section is characterized by a fascicle of usually long-pedunculate soli¬
tary flowers borne at the base of the leaf at the apex of an elongated
ramicaul without a visible annulus. Instead of sharply ancipitous, the
ramicaul is round in cross-section, but sometimes lightly compressed
near the apex. The sepals and petals are also similar to those of subgen.
Ancipitia but the column is narrowly cylindrical and footless, similar
to the column of some species of Lepanthes. The unhooded anther,
rostellum and stigma are apical.
Species: P. abortiva Luer
P. furcifera Luer
P. glochis Luer & Escobar
P. gracilipedunculata Foldats
P. habenula Luer & Escobar
P. stevensonii Luer
P. wigginsii C. Schweinf..Plate 27.

Pleurothallis subgen. Pleurothallis sect. Macrophyllae-Fascicu-

latae Lindl., Folia Orchid. Pleuroth. 9,1859.
Lectotype here designated: Pleurothallis grandiflora Lindl., Edwards’
Bot. Reg. 21:sub t. 1797,1836. This species, typical for the sec¬
tion, is chosen from 18 closely allied species listed by Lindley.
Ety.: From the Greek makrophyllon, “a large leaf,” and the Latin
fasciculatus, “fasciculate,” in reference to the fasciculate
inflorescence at the base of a large leaf.
[Syn.: Erectorostrata Brieg., Die Orchideen 428,1975, nomen invalid.]

This section of “the frogs” constitutes the largest group of closely

related species in the entire subtribe. The section is characterized by
H-ture leaves usually cordate at the base, often spreading or deflexed,
and borne by well-developed ramicauls. Sometimes the stems are
lightly compressed near the leaf, but not into sharp edges. Leaves of
immature plants are elliptical, erect, and borne by short ramicauls.
, Tjje solitary flowers are produced singly or numerously in a fascicle at
the base of the sessile leaf. No annulus is visible. The lip is commonly
igulate, but sometimes cordate with basal lobes, and often with a
glenion at the base. The base is more or less flattened or concave on
the end to fit beneath the column or to accommodate the broad
column-foot.
The glenion is a circular structure, shiny or sticky, just above the
cage of the base of the lip and directly beneath the rostellum thrust
orward above from the column. Undoubtedly it plays a part in attract-
hg pollinators. A glenion is also commonly developed in Pleurothallis
sect. Pleurothallis and the genera Brachionidium, Lepanthopsis, Platy-
stele and Stelis.
 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 27. Pleurothallis wigginsii C. Schweinf.

SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS
 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 28. Pleurothallis fornix Luer & Escobar

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 29. Pleurothallis stricta Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 30. Pleurothallis magnified Luer &

SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS 65
 PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 32. Pleurothallis ruscifolia (Jacq.) R. Br.

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALUS

Pleurothallis subgen. Pleurothallis sect. Truncatae Luer, sect,

nov.
Type: Pleurothallis truncata Lindl., Comp. Bot. Mag. 2:355,1836.
Ety.: From the Latin truncatus, “truncate,” in reference to the shape
of the lip when expanded.
Labellum sphericum cum lateribus rotundatis incurvatis basi ad pedem obsolescentem

A solitary, unusual species is segregated here into a monotypic sec¬

tion characterized by the well-developed ramicaul, a sessile leaf, and a
racemose inflorescence that emerges from the base of the leaf at the
apex of the ramicaul without a visible annulus. The simultaneously
flowered raceme lies upon the spreading leaf, veiy much like that seen
in subgen. Acianthera. The flowers are subspherical with the synsepal
deeply concave. In the natural position the lip is spherical, the broadly
rounded lateral lobes incurved to meet in the midline, and the base is
inflexibly connate to an obsolescent column-foot. This feature com¬
bined with an elongated column and an exposed apical anther, rostel-
lum and stigma compatible with subgen. Pleurothallis, separate this
species from all others in the subgenus.
The bright orange flowers and the shape of the lip suggest that this
species is humming bird-pollinated. It is frequent at high altitudes in
Ecuador.

Pleurothallis subgen. Pseudoctomeria (Krzl ) Luer, stat. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis lentiginosa Lehm. & Krzl., Bot Jahrb. Syst

Ety.: FromThe^reek pseudo-, “false,” and the genus Octomeria, re¬

ferring to Kranzlin’s view of the species.
Bas.: Pseudoctomeria Krzl., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 34:220,1925.
Type: Pleurothallis lentiginosa Lehm. & Krzl.

This unusual species of Pleurothallis from Costf K'ca’ lOct^iena by

a monotypic subgenus, was thought to be possibly^an '<*
F. C. Lehmann who first discovered .t. KrandmtotJ^nbed
Pleurothallis, but in 1925 published it as a are densely
The ramicauls, about as long as the leaves near the
fascicled, and they produce a ™ ^nd external surfaces of
apex with an annulus. Theconnate to above the mid-
the sepals are verrucose, and the sepals are cauiishinged
die. The oblong lip with a pair of lonfpartially
to a thick column-foot. The apex of the ml S ckUnltt, The stigma
covering the ventral anther as seen in suDg p
is ventral.
...Plated.
Species: Pleurothallis lentiginosa Uhm. & KrzL
 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 33. Pleurothallis truncata Lindl.

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALIJS

Plate 34. Pleurothallis lentiginosa Lehm. & Krzl.

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 35. Pleurothallis hemirhoda Undl.

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 36. Pleurothallis fastidiosa Luer

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 37. Pleurothallis rubella Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 38. Pleurothallis sarracenia Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF PI-El TROTH AT.US

) pieurothallis penicillata Luer

 PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

F SUBGEN. SPECKLINIA

!«SSSS:«.:
HatSssL^-r
80 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 40. Pleurothallis regalis Luer

 ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Plate 41. Pleurothallis cucumeris Luer

 SYSTEMATIC? LEUROTHALUS

Plate 42. Pleurothallis trichostoma Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 3. Pleurothallis areldii Luer

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

1. Pleurothallis grobyi Batem. ex Undl.

88 ICONES PLEUROTHAU JOIN ARUM

Plate 45. Pleurothallis dete rmannii Luer

JROTHALLIS
 IJIUROTHALLimNARUM

Plate 46. Pleurothallis hastata Ames

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 48. Pleurothallis tributaries (Sw.) Lindl.

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Pleurothallis subgen. Specklinia sect. Tripteranthae Luer, sect,

nov.
Type: Pleurothallis tripterantha Rchb. f., Bonplandia 2:24,1854.
Ety.: From the Greek tripteranthos, “three-winged flower,” referring
to the tall carinae of the ovaries and sepals.
Inflorescentia racemosa plus minusve pendens. Ovarium et flos camosi-alati floribus

This section consists of a variable and relatively common species,

widespread in the neotropics. It is treated here as a monotypic section
of subgen. Specklinia. Vegetatively it resembles a species of Masdeval-
lia, and it has been described thrice in that genus by Kranzlin (Af.
aperta, M. carpophora and M. tricarinata. One was even transferred
recently to Scaphosepalum).
The ramicauls are short and the inflorescence emerges laterally from
the ramicaul with a bulge or an indistinct annulus. The several-
flowered inflorescence is more or less pendent. The ovaries and sepals
are conspicuously fleshy-carinate, the flowers frequently being cleisto-
gamous. The petals, lip and column are typical for subgen. Specklinia.
The single species and its synonyms:
P. tripterantha Rchb. f., Bonplandia 2:24,1854 . Plate 49.
Syn.: P tripterygia Rchb. f„ Bonplandia 2:24, 1854. [first treated as a synonym of P.
tripterantha by Foldats, FI. Venez. 15(2):435,1970]
P procumbens Lindl., Folia Orch. Pleuroth. 35,1859.
Lepanthes tricarinata Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:43, 1882, non P. tricari¬
nata Poepp. & Endl.
Humboldtia procumbens (Lindl.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 2:688,1891.
Humboldtia tripterantha (Rchb. f.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 2:668,1891.
Humboldtia tripterygia (Rchb. f.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 2:668,1891.
P trialata Cogn., FI. Bras. 3(4):500,1896.
Masdevallia tricarinata Lehm. & Krzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst 26:456,1899, non P. tricar-
inntn R,
P. hamata Rolfe [Orch. Rev. 24:187,1916, nomen nudum] ex Ames, Sched. Orch.J
1923, descr.
Masdevallia carpophora Krzl., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17:427,1921.
P medellinensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 7:236,1920.
Masdevallia aperta Krzl., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17:430,1921.
P h un teriana Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 17:20,1922.
P aperta (Krzl.) Ames, Sched. Orch. 7:17,1924.
Scaphosepalum carpophorum (Krzl.) Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 21:251, 1967.

FleurothalHs subgen. Specklinia sect. Unciferae Luer , sect. nov.

1 ype: Pleurothallis segouiensis Rchb. f., Bonplandia 3:223,1855.
Ety.: From the Latin uncifer, “hook-bearing,” referring to the unci¬
nate lateral lobes.
Ramicaules breves. Lobi laterales labelli uncinati.

This section consists of a few, closely related species. It is character¬

ized by the short ramicaul and a simultaneously flowered raceme, or if
successively flowered, several flowers open simultaneously. The sepals
 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS 95

Plate 49. Pleurothallis tripterantha Rchb. f.

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS 97

Plate 50. Pleurothallis pompalis ■

 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 51. Pleurothallis talpinaria (Karst.) Rchb. f.

 SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS

Plate 52. Pleurothallis xenion Luer & Escobar

, Dan H.
SYSTEMATICS OF PLEUROTHALLIS
iSr”'
;*@s
105
PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM