Phragmipedium caudatum

The flowers of some of the representatives of the genus Phragmipedium are of comparable beauty with those of Paphiopedilum orchids ;sadly ,they are very short lived and often fall off after only two or three days . Moreover ,they open sucessively . The species P. caudatum is an exception in this respect -its flowers last longer and there can be more than one open at the same time .P. caudatum is an exception in this respect -its flowers last long and there can be more than one open at the same time .P. caudatum is anmong the most robust and most frequently cultivated Pharagmipedium orchids. Its flower spike bearing two or three flowers reaches a length of 32 in/80 cm ,while its leaves are up to 16 in /40 cm long. Its whitish flowers with a pronunced green venation are characterized by intensely elongated reddish ribbon -like petals -they are so long that they ca even touch the ground! The species occures in several varities that differ in the coloring and shape of the flowers . Peculior specimens were found in Ecuador that do not form a shoe -like lip;a detailed examination revelad differences in other traits as well and these specimens got the name P. lindenii(this species also exists in a standard form with a typical shoe-like lip ). P. caudatum grows mostly in sandy soil or tufa on volcano slopes.It blooms in the fall and comes from guatemala,Costa Rica ,Panama,Colombia,Venezuela,Ecuador and Peru.