Platystele consobrina

Platystele consobrina is a floriferous miniature orchid endemic to Colombia where it grows in wet evergreen forest from 1600m to 2500m altitude.

Plants grow short spoon shaped leaves that turn red in good light and these produce long thin flower stems that flower successively for more than a year. The flowers are small but gorgeous with their bright red lip and diaphanous yellow petals and sepals.

We grow the species in our cloud forest greenhouse (min 12C) and in our house where it grows on a cool shaded windowsill. Plants would also suit a terrarium.

The name consobrina recognises the similariries between this species and Platystele misera - we have no problem telling plants apart as consobrina is a little larger growing and has much longer flower stems and larger flowers.