Sophronitis purpurata

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Sophronitis purpurata

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Laeliinae
Alliance: Cattleya
Genus: Sophronitis
Species: S. purpurata
(Lindl. & Paxton) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase, 2000
Binomial name
Sophronitis purpurata
(Lindl.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase, 2000

Sophronitis purpurata is native to Brazil where it is very popular among orchid growers. It is an epiphyte that is found in the canopy of tall trees near coastal areas, in the Brazilian States of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. The orchid favors bright light and cool to warm conditions and is relative easy to cultive. S. purpurata has been used extensively as a parent in hybrididizing with Cattleyas. Sophronitis purpurata blooms from late spring to fall with three to five flowers on a spike. The flowers are long-lasting and fragrant.

[edit] Synonyms

  • Laelia purpurata Lindl. & Paxt. 1852
  • Hadrolaelia purpurata (Lindl. & Paxt.) Chiron & Castro Neto 2002
  • Chironiella purpurata (Lindl. & Paxt.) Braem 2006
  • Brasilaelia purpurata (Lindl. & Paxt.) Campacci & Gutfreund 2006

[edit] Horticultural forms

  • Sophronitis purpurata f. alba(Lindley 1852-3) white lip, sepals and pedals
  • Sophornitis purpurata f. carnea (Lindley 1852-3) pink lip, white sepals and pedals
  • Sophronitis purpurata f. flammea (Lindley 1852-3) magenta lip, pink sepals and white pedals
  • Sophronitis purpurata f. oculata (Lindley 1852-3) purple patches on lip, white sepals and pedals
Sophronitis purpurata var. oculata
Sophronitis purpurata var. oculata


  • Sophronitis purpurata f. roxo-violeta (Lindley 1852-3) light reddish purple lip, white sepals and pedals
  • Sophronitis purpurata f. rubra (Lindley 1852-3) magenta lip, pink sepals and pedals
  • Sophronitis purpurata f. sanguinea magenta lip, sepals and pedals
  • Sophronitis purpurata f. striata (Lindley 1852-3) magenta lip, pink vein pattern sepals and pedals
  • Sophronitis purpurata f. vagnota (Lindley 1852-3) dark red lip, white sepals and pedals
  • Sophronitis purpurata f. vinicolor dark red lip with small white patch at the end, white sepals and pedals
  • Sophronitis purpurata f. werkhaeuserii (Lindley 1852-3) light bluish lip, white sepals and pedals