Peristeria elata (Holy Ghost Orchid)

Peristeria elata - botanical species found in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, on the shaded edges of pastures and on rocky outcrops in humid tropical forests, at altitudes between 100 and 700 meters. This large orchid grows in conditions of moderate to intense heat, being a terrestrial or lithophytic plant, with large, ovoid or conical pseudobulbs, grouped and covered at the base by overlapping sheaths.

It blooms in the summer on a basal inflorescence, rigid and erect, up to 135 cm long, which bears between 10 and 20 campanulate, subglobose and waxy flowers, which appear on new growth and open as the pseudobulb matures, but before for the leaves to fall. The flowers open successively over a long period and have an intense citrus scent, being waxy and in the shape of a cup.

This is the national flower of Panama and is commonly known as the "Dove Orchid" or "Holy Ghost Orchid" - the shape of the flower seems to show a dove sitting in a nest.

It presents leaves with defects.

Flower size: approx. 3-4 cm

Fragrant flowers: YES