Platystele Schltr., Repert., 2016

Karremans, Adam P., Albertazzi, Federico J., Bakker, Freek T., Bogarín, Diego, Eurlings, Marcel C. M., Pridgeon, Alec, Pupulin, Franco & Gravendeel, Barbara, 2016, Phylogenetic reassessment of Specklinia and its allied genera in the Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae), Phytotaxa 272 (1), pp. 1-36 : 31

Platystele Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 8: 565. 1910. Type: Platystele bulbinella Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov.

Regni Veg. 8(191–195): 565. 1910.

Syn. Rubellia Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 258. 2004. Bas. Pleurothallis subgen. Rubellia Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 20: 73. 1986. Type: Pleurothallis rubella Luer, Selbyana 3(3–4): 378–379, f. 289. 1977.

Platystele as defined by Luer (1990) and Pridgeon (2005) is retained. As such Platystele includes 109 species that are found distributed from Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia, through Central America and the Antilles. Most species diversity is found in the northern Andes, especially Ecuador. Platystele species can be recognized by the small plants, the tiny flowers which are frequently flat with free and spreading segments, a simple lip, a short column with an apical anther and stigma. The genus is here modified only by the inclusion of one species and the exclusion of another: