Pleurothallis quadricristata Luer & Hirtz 2003 SUBGENUS Acianthera SECTION Brachystachyae Lindley 1859
Photo by © Alexander Hirtz
Photo by © S Manning and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website
YPE Drawing by © Carl Luer
Common Name The Four Serrate Pleurothallis [refers to the 4 lined petals]
Flower Size 1/2" [1.25 cm] tall
Found in Ecuador at elevations around 1200 meters as a small to just medium sized, warm growing epiphyte with slender, erect, ramicauls enveloped by a tubular sheath above the base and 2 to 3 others at the base and carrying a a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical-ovate, acute, cuneate below into the sessile base leaf that blooms in the summer on a congested, .6" [1.5 cm] long, simultaneously 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence arising through a spathe at the base of the leaf carrying yellow green flowers.
CAUTION There are problems with the second photo [S Manning]determination above. The inflorescence is not short and congested[1.5 cm], there are more than 2 to 3 flowers and they are not simultaneous so please use with caution!!! The flowers do match Luers drawing in shape, but not the colors mentioned soooo maybe he only saw few flowered specimens with retarded inflorescence? The first photo is good in all respects other than the petals which do not seem to be visible.
Synonyms Acianthera quadricristata (Luer & Hirtz) Luer 2004
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Orquideologia Vol22 #3 2003 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVI Luer 2004 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVI Luer 2004 as Acianthera quadricristata; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko & Bermudez 2009 as Acianthera quadricristata photo good; Pleurothallids Neotropical Jewels Vol 1 Karremans & Viera 2020 as Acianthera quadricristata photo fide
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