This plant is an import via Germany a couple of years ago from Bela Vista orchids. They had a large group of selected purpuratas for sale on their web site which could be ordered and imported through Regina Elsner. Sadly Regina has now retired and we now have Brexit so the chances of repeating this again anytime soon are very low. Breeding of these purpurata colour forms is at a very high level in South America so the chance to pick up some selected forms was a chance not to be missed.
Purpuratas are tough plants and even the trip across the Atlantic and loss of most of the roots didn’t stop this plant flowering on its first growth after the trip last year.
Year two and we see two flowering growths and seven flowers although the plant is by no means full sized. The blooms average 12-13cm across on growths about 45cm tall.
What I love about this flower is the intensity of the lip colour, such a rich deep red. The flowers are also quite flat for a purpurata and because of this the plant may be a tetraploid.
Last photo shows it with friends, mossiaes and lueddemanniana.
David
Purpuratas are tough plants and even the trip across the Atlantic and loss of most of the roots didn’t stop this plant flowering on its first growth after the trip last year.
Year two and we see two flowering growths and seven flowers although the plant is by no means full sized. The blooms average 12-13cm across on growths about 45cm tall.
What I love about this flower is the intensity of the lip colour, such a rich deep red. The flowers are also quite flat for a purpurata and because of this the plant may be a tetraploid.
Last photo shows it with friends, mossiaes and lueddemanniana.
David
