Sophronitis coccinea

Common Name - The Scarlet Sophronitis

The most splendorous and also the largest Sophronitis orchids, Sophronitis coccinea is the subject of a frenzied scramble among cultivators . Even though it possesses 2.4 in /6 cm long extended oval leathery leaves ,the species is included in th e catagory of brilliant miniatures . The shiny red flowers growing singly on short spikes also have the largest parameteres of the entire genus . Most highly -valued by cultivators are ,above all ,specimens of Sophronitis coccinea var. grandiflora ,with flowers reaching 3.2 in /8 cm in diameter ;collocters are also willing to dig deep in their pockets to obtain its yellow -or orange -flowered variations . Except for the species Sophronitis rosea,the entire genus is seasonally very cryophilic . Due to high cultivation demands ,well prospering specimens are a highly valued indication of exquisite cultivation work (to find out more about how to cultivate Sophronitiscoccinea ,see the following species ). The species has served to create a large number of brilliant hybrids by cross breeding with related genera Laelia,Cattleya and Brassavola. The plant blooms mostly between September and November .It comes from Brazil .

Synonyms

*Cattleya coccinea Lindley 1836; Cattleya grandiflora [Lindley]Beer 1854; Eunannos coccinea [Lindley] Porto & Brade 1933; Hadrolaelia coccinea ( Lindl. ) Chiron & V.P.Castro 2002; Sophronia coccinea Kuntze 1891; Sophronia militaris Kuntze 1891; Sophronitis coccinea f. rossiteriana [Barb. Rodr.] Pabst & Dungs. 1972; Sophronitis grandiflora Lindley 1837; Sophronitis lowii [Hort.]Curtis 1923; Sophronitis militaris Rchb.f 1861; Sophronitis rossiteriana Barb. Rodr. 1877