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Pleurothallis gelida
Lindley, Edwards's Bot. Reg. 27: Misc. 91. 1841.
Plants cespitose, 10—45 cm. Roots coarse. Stems 10—25 cm; sheaths 2—3, loose, inflated. Leaves: petiole 1—4 cm; blade narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 10—20 × 2.5—10 cm, base cuneate, apex obtuse. Inflorescences apical, many-flowered racemes, simultaneous, 10—25 cm; spathe 1—2 cm; bracts 2—3 mm; pedicels 2—4 mm. Flowers: sepals distinct, light yellow, white-pubescent, apex obtuse; dorsal sepal oblong to obovate, concave, 5—8 × 2.5—3 mm; lateral sepals connate near base to form cup, oblong, ovate, oblique, 5—7.5 × 1.5—2.5 mm, apex obtuse; petals translucent white, 3-veined, oblong to obovate, 3—3.5 × 1.75—2 mm, apex obtuse, erose or notched; lip greenish white, 3-veined, oblong to nearly pandurate, curved, 2—2.5 × 0.75—2.25 mm, apex rounded to truncate; disc with pair of lamellae near middle; column 2.5 mm, hooded; ovary 2 mm.
Flowering winter and spring. Moist forests; 0--60 m; Fla.; West Indies (Greater Antilles); Central America; South America.
Pleurothallis gelida is recognized by a loosely sheathed, stout stem with a solitary, obtuse leaf; several long racemes of small, yellowish flowers that are pubescent within; and fused lateral sepals. It is uncommon in the Fahkahatchee Swamp in Florida.
