Sobralia macrantha
The flower pictured here is 8
inches across! The same flower you see en situ is the close up in the hand. The
plant itself is not visible on the roadside because of the dense vegetation
covering it. The plant seldom reaches more than six feet tall and will normally
be between 3 and 4 feet tall in higher light culture (near full sun).
Sobralia macrantha is one of the largest bloom sizes of approximately 50 species
within the genus. Such a beautiful, huge, perfect, Cattleya looking flower, that
seldom last more than a full day! It's ironic that a flower which only remains
open less than 12 hours takes approximately 135 days between pollination and
fertilization! Even when the pods are mature, they are never very swollen and
will split open while still green!
This plant used to be very common along the gulf slopes from central Veracruz
south into Chiapas, around 3000 ft elevation, but since it does have a
spectacular flower, it is often harvested for local sales by the natives to be
used in gardens. They are very easily transplanted, as long as a good sized
portion of the root mass is taken with at least 6-8 stems and one new growth.
Commonly all of the foliage will turn black and die off when disturbed, but they
are quick to send up new shoots.
It is a terrestrial orchid and does well in a loamy soil or peat-light foliage
potting mix.