Leach orchid
Encyclopedia
Leach orchids 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
.
develops from narrow, leathery outgrowths from a creeping stem
.
Most species grow long, dense raceme
s of small to minute flower 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 sepal
s 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 occur.
This genus is not common in cultivation.
They are closely related to the massive genus Pleurothallis and Masdevallia
. Although vegetatively the species show much variety, the flower
s show a basic uniformity and are very similar throughout. Apatostelis Garay, Dialissa Lindl.
, Humboldtia Ruiz
& Pav. and Steliopsis Brieger are generally included into Stelis.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. The generic name Stelis is the Greek word for 'mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
', referring to the epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
habit of these species.
Many of the older species were named by Lindley
John Lindley
John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
, Ruiz & Pavon and Reichenbach
Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach
Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach was an ornithologist, botanist and the foremost German orchidologist of the 19th century...
, 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
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
specimen was depicted in 1591 in Tabernaemontanus' herbal book. These mainly epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
(rarely lithophytic
Lithophyte
Lithophytes are a type of plant that grows in or on rocks. Lithophytes feed off moss, nutrients in rain water, litter, and even their own dead tissue....
plants are distributed throughout damp mountain forests in tropical North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
.
Description
A single oblanceolate leafLeaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
develops from narrow, leathery outgrowths from a creeping stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
.
Most species grow long, dense raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
s of small to minute flower 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 sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s generally form a triangle with a small central structure, made up of the column
Column (botany)
The column, or technically the gynostemium, is a reproductive structure that can be found in several plant families: Aristolochiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Stylidiaceae....
, small petals and small lip
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
, though slight variation to this theme does occur.
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
Masdevallia
Masdevallia, abbreviated Masd in horticultural trade, is a large genus of flowering plants of the Pleurothallidinae, a subtribe of the orchid family . There are over 500 species, grouped into several subgenera...
. Although vegetatively the species show much variety, the flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s show a basic uniformity and are very similar throughout. Apatostelis Garay, Dialissa Lindl.
John Lindley
John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
, Humboldtia Ruiz
Hipólito Ruiz López
Hipólito Ruiz López , or Hipólito Ruiz, was a Spanish botanist known for researching the floras of Peru and Chile during an expedition under Carlos III from 1777 to 1788...
& Pav. and Steliopsis Brieger are generally included into Stelis.
Species
Here are some species and their common names:- Stelis alata Lindl. : Winged Stelis.
- Stelis argentataStelis argentataStelis argentata, commonly known as the Silvery Stelis, is a species of orchid of the genus Stelis.It is found in Central America. It has stems of ½ inch flowers....
Lindl. : Silvery Stelis - Stelis aviceps Lindl. : Bird Head Stelis
- Stelis barbata Rolfe 1913 : Bearded Stelis.
- Stelis bidentata Schltr. 1912 : Two-toothed Stelis.
- Stelis ciliaris Lindl. 1836: Hairy Stelis
- Stelis crescentiicola Schltr. 1920: Crescentia Living Stelis.
- Stelis flexuosa : Flexuous Stelis.
- Stelis gemma : Gem Stelis
- Stelis glomerosa : Ball Stelis.
- Stelis guatemalensis : Guatemalan Stelis.
- Stelis intermedia : In-between Stelis.
- Stelis leinigii : Leinig's Stelis.
- Stelis megantha : Giant Anther Stelis.
- Stelis palmeiraensis : Palmeira Stelis.
- Stelis perpusilliflora : West Indian Leach Orchid
- Stelis porschiana : Porsch's Stelis.
- Stelis purpurea : Purple Stelis
- Stelis pygmaea : Pygmy Leach Orchid
- Stelis triangulisepala : Triangular Sepal Stelis.
- Stelis vinosa : Wine-like Stelis.
- Stelis wettsteiniana : Wettstein's Stelis