Leach orchid

Taxobox
name = Leach orchid


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Silvery stelis ("Stelis argentata")
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Orchidaceae
subfamilia = Epidendroideae
tribus = Epidendreae
subtribus = Pleurothallidinae
genus = "Stelis"
genus_authority = Sw., 1799
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

Leach orchids (genus "Stelis") is a large group of orchids, with perhaps 500 species. The generic name "Stelis" is the Greek word for 'mistletoe', referring to the epiphytic habit of these species.

Many of the older species were named by Lindley, Ruiz & Pavon and Reichenbach, while many of the recent species were named by Dr. C. Luer. An orchid of the genus "Stelis" was probably the first American orchid ever to be brought to Europe. An herbarium specimen was depicted in 1591 in Tabernaemontanus' herbal book. These mainly epiphytic (rarely lithophytic plants are distributed throughout damp mountain forests in tropical North and Central America.

Description

A single oblanceolate leaf develops from narrow, leathery outgrowths from a creeping stem.

Most species grow long, dense racemes of small to minute flowers in diverse shades of white. Other colors are rare. These flowers are photosensitive, only opening in the sunlight. Some close completely at night.

The three symmetrically rounded sepals generally form a triangle with a small central structure, made up of the column, small petals and small lip, though slight variation to this theme does occour.

This genus is not common in cultivation.

Taxonomy

Cladistic research (by A. Pridgeon, R. Solano and M. Chase) has shown that the genus "Stelis" is monophyletic. But the distinction with several "Pleurothallis" subgenera is blurred (see Reference).

They are closely related to the massive genus "Pleurothallis" and "Masdevallia". Although vegetatively the species show much variety, the flowers show a basic uniformity and are very similar throughout. "Apatostelis" Garay, "Dialissa" Lindl., "Humboldtia" Ruiz & Pav. and "Steliopsis" Brieger are generally included into "Stelis".

pecies

Here are some species and their common names:
*"Stellis alata" Lindl. : Winged "Stelis".
*"Stellis argentata" Lindl. : Silvery "Stelis"
*"Stellis aviceps" Lindl. : Bird Head "Stelis"
*"Stellis barbata" Rolfe 1913 : Bearded "Stelis".
*"Stellis bidentata" Schltr. 1912 : Two-toothed "Stelis".
*"Stellis ciliaris" Lindl. 1836: Hairy "Stelis"
*"Stellis crescentiicola" Schltr. 1920: Crescentia Living "Stelis".
*"Stellis flexuosa" : Flexuous "Stelis".
*"Stellis gemma" : Gem "Stelis"
*"Stellis glomerosa" : Ball "Stelis".
*"Stellis guatemalensis" : Guatemalan "Stelis".
*"Stellis intermedia" : In-between "Stelis".
*"Stellis leinigii" : Leinig's "Stelis".
*"Stellis megantha" : Giant Anther "Stelis".
*"Stellis palmeiraensis" : Palmeira "Stelis".
*"Stellis perpusilliflora" : West Indian Leach Orchid
*"Stellis porschiana" : Porsch's "Stelis".
*"Stellis purpurea" : Purple "Stelis"
*"Stellis pygmaea" : Pygmy Leach Orchid
*"Stellis triangulisepala" : Triangular Sepal "Stelis".
*"Stellis vinosa" : Wine-like "Stelis".
*"Stellis wettsteiniana" : Wettstein's "Stelis"

References

*Dr. C. Luer - Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXIV: A first century of new species of "Stelis" of Ecuador. Part 1 (2002); ISBN 1-930723-15-6
*Dr. C. Luer - Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXVI: "Pleurothallis" subgenus "Acianthera" and three allied subgenera; A Second Century of New Species of "Stelis" of Ecuador; "Epibator", "Ophidion", "Zootrophion" (2004); ISBN 1-930723-29-2
* [http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/88/12/2286 Phylogenetic relationships in Pleurothallidinae] .