April 11, 2012

Porroglossum meridionale

Porroglossum meridionale is a miniature species from Peru that belongs to the Pleurothallids, looks like a tiny Masdevallia, and was, in fact, once classified as a Masdevallia.  The Porroglossums are distinct, however, in having a hinged and moveable lip that swings up against the column when the flower is visited by a pollinating insect or bumped by a curious onlooker.  The plant is 6 cm tall, the flower spikes 10 cm in length and the flowers 1.5 cm.  The flowers are nearly translucent.



 flower with the lip flipped up against the column

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