Peristeria elata
| Peristeria elata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flower of Peristeria elata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Cymbidieae |
| Subtribe: | Coeliopsidinae |
| Genus: | Peristeria |
| Species: | P. elata |
| Binomial name | |
| Peristeria elata Hook. | |
Peristeria elata (Also known as the Flower of the Holy Spirit) is a species of orchid occurring from Central America to Ecuador and Venezuela. It is the type species of its genus.
Description
It has ovoid pseudobulbs up to 12 cm high, elongated, not fat and with four leaves that reach up to one meter of length and 15 cm of width, folded. Flowers emerge from the base of the bulb and produce 4 to 12 flowers with an intense marble white color and purple spots. The anther and pistil are yellow. The central part of the flower has a well-defined dove shape. Its perfume is similar to beer.
Habitat
In Panama this species has been abundant in the very humid mountain forests. It is found as an epiphyte plant on the trunks of trees covered with moss at elevation of about 1,100 m. In its natural habitat, this orchid grows near the ground level of mature forests.
State of conservation
This flower is in grave danger of extinction; because of its beauty, traffickers take it away from its habitat. The Panamanian NGO APROVACA runs a sponsorship program for this orchid to save it from extinction.[1] It is included on the list of endangered plants according to the Washington Treaty on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.[2]
National Flower of Panama
Since 1980, this orchid is the national flower of the Republic of Panama.[3][4]
References
- Dr. Karlheinz Senghas - Maxillaria, un genre chaotique - Richardiana
- Eric A. Christenson - Vue d’ensemble du genre Maxillaria - Richardiana
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peristeria elata. |