Pleurothallids

Several genera of the sub-tribe Pleurothallidinae are frequently found in orchid growers' greenhouses. Although the Pleurothallids are not always as spectacular as many of the other genera of orchids, their small size makes them inviting because more of them can be kept in a small area. The genus Masdevallia, one of the members of this group, has it's own page on this website. Other Pleurothallids that I have one or more species of are Pleurothallis, Restrepia, Physosiphon, Stelis, and Dracula.

	Pleurothallis racemiflora (Mexico, Central America, northern South America). Inset on lower left shows a couple of individual blooms.		Pleurothallis restrepioides. Native to northwestern South America, this winter-bloomer produces racemes of pendant flowers from the apex of each leaf. Successive leaves are produced in the same fashion. The most distinctive feature of this orchid is the terribly foul smell which emanates from the blooms. A decaying skunk carcass has a more pleasant aroma.
	Pleurothallis tripterantha 'Jenna Marie'. A large name for a small orchid (this is a 2-inch pot). Strings of the bell-shaped flowers hang out all around.		Physosiphon tubatus. A cool-growing epiphyte from the oak forests of Mexico and Guatemala. The tiny but numerous blooms are about 1/4" across.
	Stelis (species). The genus Stelis consists of over 600 species and ranges widely throughout tropical America.		The same Stelis. A close-up of several individual blooms. The open flowers measure 5 mm across.
	Pleurothallis schweinfurthii 'San Miguel' (CBR/AOS). An epiphyte from the montane forests of Peru and Bolivia, which grows at elevations between 600 and 2400 m.		Pleurothallis schweinfurthii blooms in close-up. The flowers measure about an inch from top to bottom.
	Pleurothallis phalangifera. Native to Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru.
	Restrepia hemsleyana. One of those understatements of the orchid world that usually interest only orchid growers. A tiny flower with precision markings.		Dracula lotax. This Ecuadorian native has an odd marking resembling a monkey-face. Very disconcerting for an orchid to look back at you.