Lepanthes ingridiana is a rather rare species from Ecuador whose flowers are some of the largest in the genus. The plant itself is also quite large, for the genus, 15-20 cm tall. It bears a single 5 cm leaf on an upright stem with the typical bracts of a
Lepanthes. The plants are native to Ecuador and Columbia and come from higher elevations. They require cool temperatures in cultivation.
The bright yellow spidery flowers are huge for the genus. Fully extended they would be around 7 cm long, but they tend to hang in a kind of half-circle under the leaves. The flowers appear successively with a new bud forming as the previous flower opens. The plant is almost always in flower, therefore, with each new growth adding its succession of flowers to those already blooming.
This to me is one of the most intriguing Lepanthes I've ever seen. Which is why I had to have one when an opportunity arose. Thanks for the pics and info.
ReplyDeleteJack
My apologies for missing your comment earlier.
DeleteThis is indeed unique and rather rare and expensive. Mine came in a trade from a friend but I believe Ecuagenera has it for sale at about $100.
I grow it cool (50-65 winter and 60-75 summer) with high humidity (80%) in a small net pot in live sphagnum and it has grown into a kind of clump above the top of the pot. It is in a dark corner of my orchidarium about as far from the lights as it can be, 18-24 inches from a bank of four T5 HO fluorescents.
Hope that helps.