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Project Noah Nature School
Wonderful Stelis !!! . At this moment, it is not possible to correctly determine 90% of the entire genus because of lack of information, bad published names, bad diagnosis, etc, etc.
Wonderful Crocodeilanthes orchid. This name is a genus published in 2006 by Luer, that contains some of 70 formerly Pleurothallis/Stelis species, found mainly in South America but a few of them are also found in Costa Rica and Panama montane forests. (still many people call them as Pleurothallis, and some others will name them as Stelis. The more up to date, but not generalized, is C.)
This kind of orchid is epiphyte, but it is very common to find them growing on the ground, mainly because in the humid forest the trunks where the orchids are attached, easily get too heavy, get rotten or bitten by insects, and the plants will keep growing directly in the soil (leaves, trunks, mosses, etc) which is rich on nutrients. That fact doesnt mean they are terrestrials, as most of time they dont have their roots in direct contact with the lower layers of the soil, and mycorrhiza will only take action on organic compost, not directly on the earth.
This is amazing, and hurting to touch too !!
