Restrepia guttulata, commonly known as the small spotted restripia, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae.

It is native to the South American Andes and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain ranges in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

The stems are 11 cm in length and covered in white papery sheaths ornamented in dark brown spots near the base.

[3] The genus Restrepia is named in honour of the Colombian politician and historian, Don José Restrepo, who was also an early investigator of the flora of his home county.

Restrepia guttulata grows in cold and humid cloud forest habitats at elevations of 1700 to 2800 metres above sea level.

[11] In Venezuela, R. guttulata has been recorded growing at 1200 metres in open trees in the forest near the city of El Consejo.

[6] Its adult lifespan, including germination from seed, vegetative growth, flowering, and reproduction, occurs on branches or otherwise situated in aerial habitats in the forest canopy.

It is found in the Colombian departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Cuaca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Santander, and Tolima.

[12] Within this family, the Restrepia genus is situated in the Epidendroideae subfamily, Epidendreae tribe, and Pleurothallidinae subtribe.

[12] A comprehensive overview of the subtribe and genus was published in 1986, however, this does not include more recently recognized species which are closely related to R.

One study carried out genetic analysis of Restrepia guttulata’s plastid gene ycf1 and DNA region matK and showed two possible evolutionary trajectories.

[13] The ycf1 region analysis resulted in R. guttulata being placed as sister to Restrepiopsis norae, another orchid species in the subtribe Pleurothallidinae.

The matK analysis and resulting phylogenetic tree placed R. guttulata as sister to a clade containing Dresslerella portillae, Barbosella cucullata, and Restrepiopsis norae.

Bootstrap support was stronger for the tree constructed with the plastic gene analysis, suggesting this relationship more closely reflects true evolutionary history.

[14] Their inability to self pollinate combined with habitat fragmentation could potentially cause a serious decline or altogether cessation of successful reproduction.

Sites with recorded Restrepia occurrence have suffered a 28% decrease in Colombia, 36% in Ecuador, and 45% loss in Venezuela.

[15] Ex situ cultivation and storage strategies are crucial in conservation efforts, and include micropropagation, tissue culture, seed banking, and living collections.

[16] These collections represent a genetic backup and may be used to augment, or add to wild populations, in areas where their numbers have become severely declined.