| Phragmipedium kovachii | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cypripedioideae |
| Genus: | Phragmipedium |
| Species: | P. kovachii |
| Binomial name | |
| Phragmipedium kovachii Atwood, Dalström & Fernandez |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Phragmipedium peruvianum Christenson |
|
Phragmipedium kovachii (heterotypic synonym Phragmipedium peruvianum) is an orchid species discovered in 2001 in the Amazon jungle of NE Peru, which is considered to be the most important orchid species to be found in the Neotropics in the last 100 years. [1]
Phragmipedium kovachii is a terrestrial orchid, growing in tufts. Its flowers are 11-15 cm wide and dark pink to royal purple.
This orchid has been categorized in the section Schluckebieria of the genus Phragmipedium . [2]
Before this Phragmipedium species was illegally smuggled out of Peru, it was being cultivated at a nursery in El Progresso, Peru. The discovery date of this orchid is unknown but certainly predates 2001 when it was illegally removed from Peru in violation of Federal Law. The orchid's smugglers were convicted of violating the Endangered Species Act, fined 1000.00 and put on probation for 2 years. In 2006 a proposal was made to void the name kovachii and replace it with its current name peruvianum. It was In May 2002, James Michael Kovach, of Virginia, traveled to Peru with his friend Lee Moore, a man who has traded orchids[3]. On May 26th, 2002, he arrived in El Progresso, a town in San Martín region of Peru. Then a person offered an orchid from the Peruvian jungle, a big colorful Phragmipedium orchid. He bought 3 pots. That night Moore told him This is your chance. You've got the Holy Grail of orchids.
Kovach arrived in Miami on June 4th, 2002, with 300 orchids and at least one new unclassified Phragmipedium. He took it to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota. J.T. Atwood, S. Dalstron and Fernandez published its description in Selbyana magazine on June 12th, 2002. Kovach suggested that the orchid be named Phragmipedium kovachii.
A few days after the Selbyana publication, a description of the species as Phragmipedium peruvianum by Eric Christenson, an expert of the American Orchid Society, was published in the Orchids magazine (June 17th, 2002) claiming that the suggested name was a prohibited name. The name peruvianum has been considered not to be a good choice for some experts because a similar name has been used before (Phragmipedium peruviana), but was not validly published, for a species which was later named Phragmipedium richteri.
On June 20th, 2002, the Peruvian Government asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. All species of Phragmipedium are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. [4].
On June, 10th, 2004[5] the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida, declared that Kovach was guilty of violating the endangered species act[6]. Kovach received two years' probation and a $1,000 fine for transporting the endangered flower from Peru to the United States[3].
A proposal has been put forward in the journal Taxon 55 of November 2006 to declare the name Phragmipedium kovachii invalid and to add its original ad hoc publication "Selbyana vol. 23 Supplement" to the “opera utique oppressa” (ICBN Appendix VI) (publication to be suppressed). [7] Counterarguments have been presented in Taxon 56 (August 2007) [8]
CITES-legitimate plants, both young and adult size, are now increasingly available commercially, due to the Peruvian government licensing two nurseries to enable this.
Growing Conditions
In its natural habitat in Peru, Phragmipedium kovachii receives alkaline water, as the plants grow on decomposed limestone. This is in stark contrast to all other known species of Phragmipedium, which consistently expect somewhat acidic water.
Their roots are constantly kept moist by water trickling and flowing over them. This water is nearly always at about 55 degrees F.
One very interesting aspect of this species is the fact that the bloom continues to grow after opening. About 10mm of additional width of the flower can be expected each day in the first several days after opening.
Media related to Phragmipedium kovachii at Wikimedia Commons