; J. Bot. (Schrader) 2: 239 (1799) s. l.
Distribution: Tropical America from Mexico to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, West Indies. Hundreds of undescribed species in Stelis s. str. remain, especially in Colombia and Peru. Only Ecuador with over 450 species is well treated. The genus is taken here sensu lato fide Pridgeon & M. W. Chase 2001 etc.
= Apatostelis Garay; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 27 (7-9): 185 (1979)
= Condylago Luer; Orquideologia 15 (23): 118 (1982)
= Crocodeilanthe Rchb.f. & Warsz.; Bonplandia (Hannover) 2: 113 (1854)
= Dialyssa Lindl.; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. I, 15: 107 (1845)
= Dracontia (Luer) Luer; Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95 (Icon. Pleurothallid. XXVI): 257 (2004)
= Effusiella Luer; Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 112 (Icon. Pleurothallid. XXIX): 106 (2007)
= Elongatia (Luer) Luer; Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95 (Icon. Pleurothallid. XXVI): 257 (2004)
= Mystacorchis Szlach. & Marg.; Polish Bot. J. 46(2): 117 (2001)
= Niphantha Luer; Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 112 (Icon. Pleurothallid. XXIX): 107 (2007)
= Physosiphon Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. sub t. 1797 (1836)
= Physothallis Garay; Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 47: 199 (1953)
= Pseudostelis Schltr.; Anexos Mem. Inst. Butantan 1, IV: 36 (1922)
= Salpistele Dressler; Orquideologia 14(1): 6 (1979)
= Steliopsis Brieger; Schltr., Orchideen Beschreib. Kult. Zücht., ed. 3, Bd. I, 457 (1976) [without latin descr.]
= Unciferia (Luer) Luer; Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95 (Icon. Pleurothallid. XXVI): 265 (2004)