Lepanthopsis melanantha

(Reichenbach f.) Ames

Bot. Mus. Leafl. 1: 19. 1933.

Illustrated
Basionym: Pleurothallis melanantha Reichenbach f. Flora 48: 275. 1865
Synonyms: Lepanthes brevipetala Fawcett & Rendle Lepanthes harrisii Fawcett & Rendle
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 616.

Plants cespitose, 4–7 cm. Roots slender. Stems 1.5–5 cm; sheaths 4–8, closely appressed, ciliate. Leaves: petiole 2–4 mm; blade 12–25 × 6–13 mm, base cuneate, apex subacute to obtuse. Inflorescences from near apex of stem, few to several-flowered racemes, ± congested, to 10 mm; spathe absent; peduncle filiform, 15–30 mm; bracts 0.75–1 mm; pedicels 0.5–1 mm. Flowers dark red-purple, glabrous; sepals slightly keeled; dorsal sepal free, broadly ovate, concave, 1.25–1.5 × 1.25–1.5 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals connate proximal to middle, oblong, 1.5–1.8 × 0.8–1 mm, apex obtuse; petals oblong-obovate, 0.5–0.6 × 0.2–0.4 mm, apex obtuse; lip 1 × 1 mm, base broadly cordate, apex obtuse to rounded, lobes broadly rounded, embracing column; disc slightly concave with distinct, smooth, shallow depression immediately distal to base; column 0.4 × 0.5 mm; ovary 0.5 mm.


Phenology: Flowering sporadically throughout year.
Habitat: Moist forests
Elevation: 0–60 m

Distribution

V26 1259-distribution-map.jpg

Fla., West Indies (Greater Antilles)

Discussion

Lepanthopsis melanantha is recognized by its small stature and shoots with ciliate sheaths with dilated mouths; a relatively short, distichous raceme of few or several, simultaneous, dark red-purple flowers, usually surpassing the leaf; and a broadly ovate, concave, dorsal sepal, with oblong lateral sepals connate proximal to the middle, minute petals, and a broadly cordate, obtuse lip with a smooth, shallow depression at the base. It is known in the flora area only from the Fahkahatchee Swamp in Collier County, Florida.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Lepanthopsis melanantha"
self-pollination +
obtuse +  and rounded +
C. A. Luer +
(Reichenbach f.) Ames +
cordate +  and cuneate +
Pleurothallis melanantha +
indehiscent +
not +  and articulate +
conduplicate +  and plicate +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
flattened +, triangular +  and cylindric +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br />) +
0.075 cm0.75 mm <br />7.5e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
rudimentary +  and obsolete +
concave +
Fla. +  and West Indies (Greater Antilles) +
0.125 cm1.25 mm <br />0.00125 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
0.125 cm1.25 mm <br />0.00125 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
0–60 m +
3-merous +, sessile +  and pedicellate +
dark red-purple +
not +  and resupinate +
Moist forests +
lateral +  and terminal +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.18 cm1.8 mm <br />0.0018 m <br />) +
proximal +  and middle +
duplicate +, convolute +, whorled +, opposite +, distichous +  and alternate +
cauline +  and basal +
reduced +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (?) +
larger +
not callous +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (?) +
rounded +
differing in form and color +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (?) +
1-many-flowered +  and cymose +
pendent +  and erect +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
0.5mm;0.6mm +
oblong-obovate +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
Flowering sporadically throughout year. +
adnate +  and free +
Bot. Mus. Leafl. +
several-flowered +
aerial +  and subterranean +
slender +
minute +
free +, distinct +, adnate +  and connate +
unequal +
foliaceous +
not +  and alike +
scabrous +  and ciliate +
dilated +  and tubular +
Illustrated +
branched +, or +  and simple +
proliferous +
slender +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
Lepanthes brevipetala +  and Lepanthes harrisii +
Lepanthopsis melanantha +
Lepanthopsis +
species +
annual +  and perennial +
plant +  and cespitose +
saprophytic +, photosynthetic +  and mycotrophic +