Name: Lepanthes nontecta Luer

Etymology: The genus name Lepanthes is derived from the Greek lepis ("scale") and anthos ("flower"). nontecta means "uncovered" and refers to the exposed areas of the lip.

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

Origin / Habitat: Ecuador and Colombia; in Ecuador, it is known from the Napo Province. It grows epiphytically in moist montane and cloud forests, in Ecuador at around 450–600 m.

Description & Care: Miniature orchid with slender, upright shoots, each bearing a single leathery, oval leaf. The approximately 5 mm flowers appear sequentially on short, filiform inflorescences. With us, it grows in bright to shaded conditions, with high humidity and good air circulation. We keep the substrate evenly slightly moist. We cultivate it in warm conditions, at around 18–28 °C.