Name: Lepanthes tentaculata Luer & Hirtz
Etymology: tentaculata = tentacle-like / bearing tentacles — refers to the extremely elongated, thread-like appendages of the inner petals (petals).
First description: In 1996 by the American botanist Carlyle A. Luer and Alexander C. Hirtz in Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden (61(3): 167).
Origin / Distribution: Ecuador (Esmeraldas Province).
Location / Habitat: Growing epiphytically in humid tropical cloud and lowland rainforests at lower elevations of around 750 meters. There it thrives in the shady understory, with very high humidity year-round and consistently warm temperatures.
Description & Notes: Lepanthes tentaculata is a spectacular miniature orchid with upright stems sheathed in 7 to 9 finely hairy (pubescent) lepanthiform sheaths. Like its close relative Lepanthes calodictyon, it has beautiful, delicate, almost circular leaves with distinctive dark, net-like veining (reticulation) and wavy edges. The tiny flowers appear successively on delicate inflorescences. It differs from L. calodictyon primarily in its namesake, extremely long petal appendages, as well as a tiny, heart-shaped lip beneath the column.

Unlike most highland Lepanthes, it comes from warm lowland cloud forests and therefore requires warm to, at most, intermediate growing conditions (not cool conditions). Given its tiny stature, spectacular leaf patterning, and need for consistently high humidity (over 80%), this rarity is an absolute dream plant for long-term cultivation in warm, humid terrariums and display cases. Ideally, it should be grown in the shade, mounted on cork with a permanently moist moss pad, while gentle, continuous air movement is essential.

In-vitro culture: You will receive a flask containing 4 young plants. The plants are generally already large enough to be removed from the flask. After opening, carefully rinse the culture medium from the fine roots with lukewarm water and place the young plants on moist sphagnum moss or in a very fine, airy substrate. For the first few weeks, we recommend very high humidity, warm to intermediate temperatures, sheltered light, and gentle air movement. Keep the young plants consistently slightly moist and never allow them to dry out completely.