Platystele orectoglossa  is readily found in the central areas of Colombia and occasionally in eastern Ecuador at elevations up to 3000 meters. The plant and flower size are highly variable (http://www.orchidspecies.com/platyorectoglossa.htm). CBR description in e-AQ indicates a plant of 10 cm in height. Flowers are large (0.5-0.9 cm natural spread) and are rose to magenta. The lip resembles a protruding tongue, hence the name orectoglossa which in Greek means “an extended tongue.”

Grown and photographed by Bryon Rinke