This magnificent species is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Venzuela in shaded grassland edges and stone outcrops in tropical wet forests at elevations of 330 – 2,300 feet (100 to 700 m). It is a large sized, warm to hot growing terrestrial or lithophytic orchid with clustered, large, ovoid pseudobulbs. It blooms in the summer on a rigidly erect, up to 4.5-foot long, upright inflorescence bearing 10 to 15 highly citrus scented, waxy, cup-shaped flowers, opening successively over a long period. This is the national flower of Panama and is commonly called the “Dove Orchid” or “Holy Ghost Orchid” and it is easy to see the dove sitting on the nest within the flower. The clone ‘Dove’ has amazing vigor and is rarely seen in the marketplace. These highly sought after plants grow best in Cattleya conditions.
PERISTERIA ELATA
#Species #rare #fragrant #unusual #summerblooms #waxy #longlasting