Name: Lepanthes hirtzii Luer

Etymology: The genus name Lepanthes is derived from the Greek lepis ("scale") and anthos ("flower"). The epithet hirtzii honors the Ecuadorian orchid researcher Alex Hirtz.

First description: The species was described in 1983 by Carlyle A. Luer.

Origin / Habitat: Southern Colombia to Morona-Santiago in Ecuador. It grows epiphytically in moist cloud forests at approximately 2400–3100 m.

Description & Notes: Small epiphytic Lepanthes with a single, thin leathery leaf and dense, sequentially blooming inflorescences. The approximately 1 cm large flowers can be colored red, orange to purple. With us, it grows cool, shaded to bright diffuse, with very high humidity and good air movement. We keep the substrate evenly moist. We cultivate it at approximately 7–18 °C.