Phragmipedium longifolium

This is the lagest of all Phragmipedium orchids -its leaves measure 24 in/60 cm and the inflorences reaches a length of over 3.3 ft /1 m. The ladder-shaped flower spike bears up to 10 rather short -lived flowers ,each of which opens only after the previous one has fallen off. The flowers are up to 6 in / 15 cm in diameter and sport protruding ,elongated green petals. The brown -and -green lip is smooth and relatively small. Although the plant's cultivation demands are low,its proportions make it somewhat unseemly and it is mainly used in breeding . The flowers appear irregularly . The plant comes from Costa Rica ,Panama,Ecuador and Colombia.