Name: Lepanthes hugomedinae A.Doucette & J.Portilla
Synonyms:
Etymology: hugomedinae = named in honor of Hugo Medina, an Ecuadorian orchid expert.
First described: 2023 by Alfonso Doucette and José Portilla.
Origin / Distribution: Ecuador.
Location / Habitat:
Epiphytic, growing in cool to temperate montane cloud forests in the Andes. It inhabits mossy branches in habitats with extremely high humidity and constant air movement.
Description & Notes:
Lepanthes hugomedinae is a small, clump-forming orchid with upright ramicauls enveloped by the genus-typical, funnel-shaped lepanthiform sheaths. The leaves are elliptical and slightly leathery.

The inflorescences appear successively. This species is distinguished by its specific floral morphology, particularly the shape of the petals and the lip, which sets it apart from other members of the genus. In cultivation, it requires cool to temperate conditions, very high humidity (over 80%), and must never dry out completely. The use of pure rainwater or reverse osmosis water is essential due to the high salt sensitivity of the fine roots.