Lepanthes eltoroensis
Encyclopedia
Lepanthes eltoroensis is a rare species of orchid known by the common name Luquillo Mountain babyboot orchid. It is endemic to Puerto Rico
, where it is known to exist at six sites within El Yunque National Forest
in the Luquillo Mountains. It is named for the El Toro Trail in the mountains. It is a federally listed endangered species
of the United States.
This orchid is an epiphyte
which grows on the mossy trunks of several species of forest trees. The plant is no more than 4 centimeters long with one leaf and one or more slender stems. The solitary flower lies against the leaf and is just a few millimeters long.
This plant was listed as an endangered species because it is threatened by forest management practices and hurricane activity. Plant collectors have sought this plant, and have destroyed at least one population of it.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, where it is known to exist at six sites within El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Luquillo National Forest, and the Caribbean National Forest, is a forest located in northeastern Puerto Rico. It is the only tropical rain forest in the United States...
in the Luquillo Mountains. It is named for the El Toro Trail in the mountains. It is a federally listed endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States.
This orchid is an epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
which grows on the mossy trunks of several species of forest trees. The plant is no more than 4 centimeters long with one leaf and one or more slender stems. The solitary flower lies against the leaf and is just a few millimeters long.
This plant was listed as an endangered species because it is threatened by forest management practices and hurricane activity. Plant collectors have sought this plant, and have destroyed at least one population of it.