Object Details
- Description
- This miniature orchid is the type species for its genus, and takes its name from the Greek for delicate (leptos), in reference to the fragile nature of these orchids’ flowers.
- Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere)
- January to May
- Ethnobotanical Uses
- In Brazil the fruit of this plant is infused in tea, ice cream, sherbet, or milk for a flavor that is slightly sweeter and more mild than vanilla.
- Pollination Syndrome
- Likely bee
- Provenance
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Accession Number
- 2008-1146A
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Life Form
- Epiphytic
- Bloom Characteristics
- Arching inflorescence is .75" (2 cm) long with 1-3 fleshy, successively opening white flowers. Flowers are 1.2-2" (3.5-5 cm) across and last 10-12 days.
- Foliage Characteristics
- Often red-spotted leaves
- Fragrance
- Fragrant
- Plant Size
- 3-6" x .25" (8-15 x .8 cm)
- Range
- Brazil to Paraguay
- Habitat
- Subtropical rainforests and coastal mountains; 1640-2950ft (500-900m)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection
- Common Name
- Bicolored Leptotes
- Brazilian Dwarf Vanilla
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Lilianae
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Subfamily
- Epidendroideae
- Genus
- Leptotes
- Species
- bicolor
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Topic
- Orchids
- Living Collections
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2008-1146A
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax70427af1c-7de3-443f-bffb-5069eade8938
