Stelis: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:50, 4 December 2004

Revision as of 20:01, 7 December 2004

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''There is also a genus of stelidine bees'' : ''see the article on genus'' [[Stelis (bee)|Stelis]].

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{{Taxobox_ordo_entry | taxon = [[Asparagales]]}}

{{Taxobox_familia_entry | taxon = [[Orchidaceae]]}}

{{Taxobox subfamilia entry | taxon = [[Epidendroideae]]}}

{{Taxobox tribus entry | taxon = [[Epidendreae]]}}

{{Taxobox subtribus entry | taxon = [[Pleurothallidinae]]}}

{{Taxobox genus entry | taxon = '''''Stelis'''''}}

{{Taxobox_end_placement}}

{{Taxobox_section_subdivision | color = lightgreen | plural_taxon = <center>Species</center>}}

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'''''Stelis''''', or commonly named Leach Orchid, is a large [[genus]] in the orchid family ([[Orchidaceae]]) with perhaps 500 [[species]], and is commonly known as the '''Leach Orchid'''.

Stelis is the Greek word for 'mistletoe', referring to the epiphytic habit of this species. The genus was first described by Olof Swartz in 1799. Many of the older species have beenwere named by [[John Lindley|Lindley]], Ruiz & Pavon and [[Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach|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. AAn herbarium specimen was depicted in 1591 in Tabernaemontanus' herbal book.

[[Image:Jndianisch Mispel.jpg|thumb|left|250px|'Indian mistletoe', first depiction of a ''Stelis'' orchid <br /> Herbal Book of Johannes Theodorus Tabernaemontanus]]

These mainly [[epiphyte|epiphytic]] (rarely [[lithophyte|lithophytic]] [[plant]]s are distributed throughout damp mountain forests in tropical [[America]].

[[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 [[flower]]s show a basic uniformity and are very similar throughout.

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

Most species grow long, dense [[raceme]]s of small to minute flowers in diverse shades of white. Another colorOther iscolors ratherare rare. These flowers are photosensitive, only opening in the sunlight. Some close completely at night.

The three symmetrically rounded sepals[[sepal]]s generally form a triangle with a small central structure, made up of the [[column (botany)|column]], small [[petals]] and small [[labellum|lip]], though slight variation to this theme does occour.

This genus is not popularcommon amongin growerscultivation.

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Below are a few examples of the species with common names:

*''Stelis alata'' : Winged ''Stelis''.

*''Stelis argentata'': Silvery ''Stelis''

*''Stelis aviceps'' : Bird Head ''Stelis''

*''Stelis barbata'' : Bearded ''Stelis''.

*''Stelis bidentata'' : Two-toothed ''Stelis''.

*''Stelis ciliaris'' :Hairy ''Stelis''

*''Stelis crescentiicola'' : 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''

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== Reference ==

*Dr. C. Luer - Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXIV: A first century of new species of ''Stelis'' of Ecuador. Part 1 (2002); ISBN 1930723156

*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 1930723292

*[http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/88/12/2286 Phylogenetic relationships in Pleurothallidinae].