Name: Stelis oscargrouchii Karremans

Synonyms: Specklinia ximenae, Effusiella ximenae, Pleurothallis ximenae.

Etymology: The genus name Stelis comes from Greek and means “small column” or “support,” referring to the flower column. oscargrouchii honors Oscar Grouch, after whom the species was named.

First description: Adam P. Karremans described the species in 2015.

Origin / Habitat: Ecuador, particularly Morona-Santiago; occurrences have also been documented in Costa Rica and Panama under the former name Specklinia ximenae. It grows epiphytically in humid montane and cloud forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca at around 2000–2600 m, in shady to partially shaded conditions.

Description & Notes: A very small, compact-growing Stelis with fleshy leaves and slender inflorescences. The small flowers are densely covered with fine hairs and display olive-green to brownish-purple hues. In our care, it grows in shade to partial shade, with consistently high humidity and gentle air movement. We cultivate it in cool to intermediate conditions, at around 12–20 °C.