Pendant inflorescence is 8-10" (15-25 cm) long with 12 green and brown, long-lasting flowers. Flowers are 1.5" wide by 6" long (3.75 x 15 cm).
Fragrance:
Fragrant
Range:
S Florida, Mexico to Trop America
Habitat:
Tropical rainforests; 0-3940ft (0-1200m)
Description:
This medium sized orchid is considered vulnerable across its range, but endangered in Florida, where it has not been seen since 1990. The flower of this orchid imitates the legs of a particular spider which is the prey of a spider-hunter wasp. In the process of the wasp trying to capture its “prey” through repeated stings to the flower’s lip, the orchid’s pollinarium stick to the wasp’s head, and are transferred to the next B. caudata it visits.
Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere):
Year round; peaks from April to September
Medicinal / Pharmaceutical:
In the West Indies, a tincture was made from this plant to treat epilepsy, nervous disorders, and for use as an antispasmodic.
Pollination Syndrome:
Wasp (female members of Pepsis, Campsomeris); food deception
