Brachypeza uniflora

This tiny species is related to Phalaenopsis and lives in similarly enjoys warm lowland forests. It is reported as endemic to Vietnam though may well be present in Laos too. The lowland forests we have explored in Laos are very seasonal with quite a long dry season in the winter followed by a hot dry season before the summer rains arive. The thick roots and terete leaves of the species show how it copes with these conditions. 

In cultivation we water plants throuout the year (it doesnt seem to need a dry rest to flower) and keep plants in our Ikea cases at a minimum of 18C. The species is well suited to mounting as it is tiny although the flowers are really large compared to the plant at about 1cm across. The flowers are long lasting and have a sweet peppery scent.