Taxon

Lycaste virginalis

 
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Lycaste virginalis - White Nun Orchid, Monja Blanca, Saq Hix
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Common name: White Nun Orchid, Monja Blanca, Saq Hix
Family: Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae (Orchid)
Synonym: Lycaste skinneri
Distribution: Mexico (Chiapas) to Honduras
Habitat: Cool cloud forests in the forks of trees; 3950-6600ft (1200-2000m)
Life form: Epiphytic
Bloom Time (northern hemisphere): Year round; peaks in February and March
Foliage characteristics: Deciduous
Bloom characteristics: Inflorescence is 6-12" (15-30 cm) long with a single, waxy, long lasting flower. Flower is 4-6" (10-15 cm) across, but can be small as 2" (5 cm) across or as large as 7" (17.8 cm).
Fragrance: Fragrant
Pollination syndrome: Bee (Euglossa), collects fragrance
Plant size: 12-20" x 12-20" (30-51 x 30-46 cm)
Description: When this large orchid first hit the European orchid scene in the late 1800s, it was so coveted that thousands were taken from its native Guatemalan cloud forests and exported. Almost all of these plants died for various reasons. By the 1930s, when this beautiful plant was first designated as the national flower of Guatemala, it was considered rare. Despite prohibition on the collection of L. virginalis starting in the 1940s, poaching continued, leading to the Guatemalan government banning the export of all orchids until the ‘90s. This beautiful orchid remains in danger, but protection efforts persist.
Links: Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia • Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

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