Lepanthes Sw.

Lepanthes are distributed from Mexico to Bolivia in a variety of habitats (Dressler 1981). Over 50 species have been described in Costa Rica and Panama and there are likely many more to be described (Dressler 1993). 

The stems are long and contain multiple sheaths along the length of the stem (Dressler 1993). The leaves are wide to elongated and rounded in shape with a distinctive point at the tip. The inflorescence appears at the base of the leaf and contains one flower at a time. The old inflorescence with no flowers resembles a fish backbone. The flowers are small and butterfly-shaped with 2 or 3 lobes per petal and a small lip. Lepanthes are small in size and epiphytic, growing on the trunks of trees in exposed areas (Crain 2012). The mean death rate per year in Lepanthes ranges from 9.58% to 28.82% per year, with L. rubripetala having a higher variance in lifespan and L. caritensis having a lower variance (Tremblay 2000). Higher variance may result in decreased genetic variation and the potential for extinction. 

Lepanthes are often found in areas of trees with increased bryophyte cover (Dressler 1981). Crain (2012) suggested that epiphytic Lepanthes grow in accordance with bryophytes to avoid desiccation. Substantially more moss cover was found on trees with Lepanthes than on trees where no Lepanthes were growing. This indicates that a commensalism occurs between bryophytes and Lepanthes and the orchids may be significantly affected as bryophyte cover decreases due to climate change. 

Lepanthes glicensteinii are pollinated by male fungus gnats (Bradysia floribunda; Diptera; Sciaridae) through deceptive pollination (Blanco and Barboza 2005). The gnats are attracted to the flower by olfactory means upon perceiving the flower as a female gnat. The gnat approaches the plant and searches for an open flower. When an open flower is found he proceeds to position his abdomen around the labellum of the flower, clasping the labellum with his gonostili (genetic claspers). He then rotates 180° to face the opposite direction. This movement typically allows pollinia to be deposited on the abdomen of the gnat while the male proceeds to spend anywhere from 30 seconds to 20 minutes in this position until ejaculation occurs. After this process the male flies away without visiting any other flowers, however some gnats are seen copulating with a flower while pollinia is already attached to their abdomen indicating that second visits do occur. This method of pollination is called genitalic pseudocopulatory and is likely to be the mode of pollination for the Lepanthes genus, since the shape of the flower is similar across the genus.

Low reproductive success is common in orchids, including many species of Lepanthes, due to low levels of pollinator visitation (Tremblay et al. 1998). Lepanthes may have even less reproductive success because of host tree specificity and long distances between patches (Tremblay 1997). Genetic drift, the random success of some individuals above others, is therefore important to sustain Lepanthes populations and genetic diversity (Tremblay and Ackerman 2001).