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Taxon
Brassia
verrucosa
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Common name:
The Warty Brassia
Family:
Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae (Orchid)
Distribution:
Mexico to N Brazil
Habitat:
Humid forests and rocky hills; 900-1600m
Life form:
Epiphytic
Bloom Time (northern hemisphere):
April to September
Bloom characteristics:
Inflorescence is 30" long with 5- 15 green flowers. Flowers are 6" across and last 3-8 weeks.
Fragrance:
Black pepper, musky (scent fades as flowers age)
Pollination syndrome:
Wasps
Description:
This is a large orchid which has pale green flowers with a lip covered in distinctive “warts” – small brown or green spots. In the wild, a type of white spider has been observed camouflaging itself among the orchid’s pale flowers to catch insects. This Brassia has some of the largest, most spider-like flowers of the genus.
Links:
Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia
•
IUCN Red List
•
Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
Locations
1:
Greenhouse 10: Intermediate Higher Light Orchid House
(GH10)
• Accession: 2017-0276*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
2:
Greenhouse 10: Intermediate Higher Light Orchid House
(GH10)
• Accession: 2018-1149*A • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
3:
Greenhouse 10: Intermediate Higher Light Orchid House
(GH10)
• Accession: 2024-0005 • Provenance: From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Area
Individual