Stelis gracilis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
Genus: | Stelis |
Species: | S. gracilis |
Binomial name | |
Stelis gracilis Ames (1908) | |
Synonyms | |
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Stelis gracilis is a species of leach orchid (genus Stelis ), which is one of the largest genera in the orchid family, with over 600 species. Stelis gracilis are small epiphytes with greenish-white flowers in raceme inflorescences. This rare species of orchid is found in tropical rainforests in North and Central America. It was first described by the American botanist Oakes Ames in 1908.
Stelis gracilis is a small-sized, warm growing epiphyte with erect to ascending, slender ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 dry and membranous sheaths and carrying a single apical, erect, subcoriaceous, oblanceolate, conduplicate blade attached to a petiolate base leaf. This species blooms in the spring and summer on a filiform, slender, 12 cm long, densely flowered, greenish-white raceme inflorescence.. [1] These flowers are photosensitive, only opening in the sunlight. The three symmetrically rounded sepals generally form a triangle with a small central structure, made up of the column, small petals and small lip. [2]
Stems are up to 3 cm long; floral bracts around 1.5 mm. Florets are about 3 mm in size and have 0.6-0.8 mm long and 0.8 mm wide, inflated, greenish-white petals, oval and obtuse 3-nerved sepals (1.9-2.0 mm dorsal length and 1.0-2.0 mm width), and lip with a transverse thickening at the base. Florets have arched ovaries, which are 1.0 mm to 2.5 mm in length. [3]
The generic name Stelis is the Greek word for "mistletoe." The term was coined by Theophrastus to describe a hemiparasitic plant that grows on trees. The name mistletoe originally referred to the species Viscum album (European mistletoe, of the family Santalaceae in the order Santalales). Over the centuries, the term has been broadened to include many other species of parasitic plants with similar habits, found in other parts of the world, that are classified in different genera and even families—such as Misodendraceae and the Loranthaceae. Orchids do not belong to these families, but, however, the genus Stelis was named for its resemblance to mistletoes. [4]
These plants are rare; mostly found in North and Central American areas. [5]
Found in countries such as Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in dense, wet tropical forests at elevations around 1050 to 1100 meters. [3]
Stelis gracilis can be grown potted in a fine bark-based compost in cool to intermediate temperatures, moderate to heavy shade. Requires good ventilation and high humidity throughout the entire year. [2]
If properly cared for in artificial conditions, an individual specimen may live for several years.
This genus is not common in cultivation. [2]
Stelis, or leach orchids, is a large genus of orchids, with perhaps 500 species. The generic name Stelis is the Greek word for 'mistletoe', referring to the epiphytic habit of these species. These mainly epiphytic plants are widely distributed throughout much of South America, Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and Florida. Stelis is abbreviated Ste. in the horticultural trade.
Brassavola is a genus of 21 orchids. They were named in 1813 by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown. The name comes from the Italian nobleman and physician Antonio Musa Brassavola. This genus is abbreviated B. in trade journals.
Laelia is a small genus of 25 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). Laelia species are found in areas of subtropical or temperate climate in Central and South America, but mostly in Mexico. Laelia is abbreviated L. in the horticultural trade.
Dinema is a genus of orchids. It is represented by a single currently accepted species, Dinema polybulbon, native to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Dactylorhiza viridis, the frog orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae. It has also been treated as the only species Coeloglossum viride of the monotypic genus Coeloglossum.
Epidendrum flexuosum, a reed-stemmed Epidendrum common at mid-altitudes in Central America, is a species of orchid commonly called Epidendrum imatophyllum. It grows exposed to intense sunlight in the forest canopy, particularly on Guava species. E. flexuosum bears non-resupinate lavender flowers on a congested raceme at the end of a long peduncle.
Epidendrum dendrobii is a terrestrial species of reed-stemmed Epidendrum of the Orchidaceae which grows on steep slopes in tropical montane cloud forests of Cochabamba, Bolivia and Venezuela at altitudes near 2.6 km.
Cryptostylis, commonly known as tongue orchids, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family. Tongue orchids are terrestrial herbs with one to a few stalked leaves at the base of the flowering stem, or leafless. One to a few dull coloured flowers are borne on an erect flowering stem. The most conspicuous part of the flower is the labellum, compared to the much reduced sepals and petals. At least some species are pollinated by wasps when they attempt to mate with the flower. There are about twenty five species found in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.
Thelasis, commonly known as fly orchids, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are usually epiphytes, sometimes lithophytes or rarely terrestrials. Some species have pseudobulbs with up to three leaves, whilst others have several leaves in two ranks. A large number of small, white or greenish yellow flowers are borne on a thin, arching flowering stem. There are about thirty species, distributed from tropical and subtropical Asia to the southwest Pacific.
Lyperanthus, commonly known as beak orchids, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae, that is endemic to Australia. There are two species, one in Western Australia and the other in four eastern Australian states, distinguished by their single long, narrow, leathery leaf and dull coloured flowers which have prominent short calli on their labellum. Both form loose colonies which reproduce asexually from their tubers, and sexually using their flowers.
Neotinea is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is native to much of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the islands of the eastern Atlantic, from the Canaries, Madeira and Ireland east to Iran and Western Siberia.
Saccolabiopsis, commonly known as pitcher orchids, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are small epiphytes with short, fibrous stems, smooth, thin roots, a few thin, oblong to lance-shaped leaves in two ranks and large numbers of small green flowers on an unbranched flowering stem. There are about fifteen species found from the eastern Himalayas to the south-west Pacific.
Bulbophyllum nocturnum is a species of epiphytic orchid that grows in New Britain. It was described in 2011, and is the first species of orchid known to consistently flower during the night, and close its flowers during the day.
Caladenia gracilis, commonly known as musky caps or musky caladenia, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and up to six flowers which are dark-coloured on the back and white on the front, sometimes tinged with pink and with a strong musky or soapy odour. The species is also known as Caladenia moschata in Victoria.
Vanda wightii is a species of orchid from southern India and Sri Lanka. For some time it was thought to be extinct after being described in 1849. The species was however rediscovered and it is now known from India. It is closely related to Vanda thwaitesii. The species was named by Reichenback after the botanist and collector Robert Wight. 1.
Acianthus exiguus, commonly known as tiny mosquito orchid, is a flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, heart-shaped leaf and up to five translucent greenish-white flowers with pinkish markings and is found growing in forests on the north coast of the state.
Arthrochilus latipes, commonly known as robust elbow orchid, is a flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to the "Top End" of the Northern Territory in Australia. Each plant has from two to four ground-hugging leaves and between three and fifteen flowers during the wet season and the species often forms spreading colonies on sandstone escarpments. Like others in the genus, the flowers are pollinated by a species of thynnid wasp.
Microcoelia exilis, commonly known as the pinhead orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is a leafless epiphyte, a perennial herb that grows in a tangled cluster of roots and stems on the branch of a tree. This orchid is native to tropical central and eastern Africa and was first described in 1830 by the English botanist John Lindley.
Lepanthes kokonuko is a species of orchid from southern Colombia. L. kokonuko can be easily recognized by its caespitose medium-sized plants, elliptical coriaceous leaves, long loosely, flexuous and distichous inflorescences; strongly revolute lateral sepals, transversely bilobed petals with the upper lobe lanceolate (hornlike), and a bilaminate lip with the blades ovoid–lanceolate with a bipartite appendix.
Acianthus saxatilis is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a terrestrial herb with a single, relatively large, heart-shaped leaf and usually up to 5 translucent greenish-brown to greenish-yellow flowers.
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