comparettia-speciosa

A truly magnificent orchid that is even endowed with many cultivation prerequisites,as are most of the 12 species of this small New -World genus that have so far been discribed . C. speciosa grows little reduced pseudobulbs bearing a single,belt-shaped ,thick leaf that reaches a leangth of 20 in/50 cm and bears 6-25 spectacular (hence the Latin generic name)flowers. Their shiny orange tepals are formed in the same way as those of all the other Comparettia orchids-they are dominated by an excessively broadned lip . The species is not very difficult to cultivate ,just beware of frequent overwatering ,which causes the fine roots to mold. The roots are also sensitive to excessive salting . It blooms in the fall(October and November) and was discovered in the lower elevations of Ecuador.