Bletia purpurea
Submitted by bernabu on Fri, 21/03/2008 - 00:50
Bletia purpurea (Lam.) DC., Rapp. [Not.] Pl. Rar. Genéve 8: 23 (1840).
Distribution: S. Florida, Mexico to Trop. America
Identification resolved as per below discussion.
This unnamed terrestrial hails from Jamaica. It has small round plump psuedobuls half inch diameter. Long narrow soft plicate leaves approx two feet long the inflorescence is nearly three feet long with 10 flowers 1 1/2" long. The actual colour is much deeper and more reddish than shown in the picture. Has anyone any ideas what it is, I've checked my book on 'Orchids of Jamaica' by A.Glouden & C,Tobisch and can't see anything like the image shown. My first thoughts were of one of the Spathoglottis species? I suppose it could be an introduced species or even a hybrid?
bernabu
maybe Bletia purpurea
From your description I am certain it's a Bletia Bernard but not sure of which species it could be....maybe Bletia purpurea? More research required to narrow that down. I'll see what i can come up with and post again.
Regards wellsy
Bletia
Thanks wellsy- you are right, I have checked this species and although there is some morphological variation in this species, everything else fits.
bernabu
??
So will we list it as Bletia purpurea Bernard?
Regards wellsy
Happy with that
Regards bernabu