Lycaste skinneri

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Lycaste skinneri
Lycaste skinneri
Lycaste skinneri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Maxillarieae
Subtribe: Lycastinae
Genus: Lycaste
Species: L. skinneri
Binomial name
Lycaste skinneri

Lycaste skinneri, also called Lycaste virginalis, is a plant belonging to the orchid genus Lycaste and from moderate altitudes of Central America.[1]

Lycaste skinneri has pink flowers which can grow about 15 cm (6 in) wide, the flower stem for a single flower being up to 30 cm (12 in) tall. They flower mostly in late autumn or winter. The leaves are deciduous and grow to 75 cm (30 in) long. The plant has pseudobulbs up to 10 cm (4 in) long.[1]

Lycaste skinneri has a white form which is the national flower of Guatemala, commonly known as Monja Blanca (White Nun). There is a hybrid Lycaste skinneri × dowiana with flowers of pink sepals, white petals, and pale pink labellum.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", p 545. Könemann, 2004. ISBN 3-8331-1253-0