Life Form:

Terrestrial

Bloom Characteristics:

Erect inflorescence is 3-4.5 feet (89-140 cm) long 10-20 waxy, white flowers that open in succession. Flowers are 2" (5 cm) across.

Foliage Characteristics:

Deciduous

Fragrance:

Fragrant (strong). Sweet and fruity from afar, but spicy up close.

Plant Size:

25-40" x 20-30" (64-102 x 51-76 cm), excluding inflorescence

Range:

C America to Venezuela and Ecuador

Habitat:

Tropical wet forests; 330-2300ft (100-700m)

Description:

This large orchid is named for the appearance of the inside of the flower, which looks like a dove sitting in a nest. The flower has a hinged lip which flips its pollinator into the flower, and aids in pollination. It is the type species of the genus.

Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere):

June to October

Ethnobotanical Uses:

This has been the national flower of Panama since 1936.

Pollination Syndrome:

Bee (male Euglossa)

Provenance:

From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin

Topic:

Orchids  Search this

Living Collections  Search this

Common Name:

Dove Orchid

Flor del Espiritu Santo

Holy Ghost Orchid

The Stately Peristeria

Group:

[vascular plants]

Class:

Equisetopsida

Subclass:

Magnoliidae

Superorder:

Lilianae

Order:

Asparagales

Family:

Orchidaceae

Subfamily:

Epidendroideae

Genus:

Peristeria

Species:

elata

Accession Number:

2008-3989B

Restrictions & Rights:

CC0

See more items in:

Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection

Data Source:

Smithsonian Gardens

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax77a82f25a-ff30-4ea1-a4b3-eeac46d408a3

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2008-3989B