Epidendrum pfavii Rolfe 1894 GROUP Cristatum SUBGROUP Cnemidophorum Photo courtesy of © Lourens Grobler

Inflorescence Photo courtesy of Andy's Orchids Copyright © 2002 All rights reserved.

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Common Name Pfavi's Epidendrum [Swiss Orchid Collector - Central America 1800's]

Flower Size 1 1/2" [3.75 cm]

Found in Costa Rica at elevations of 1700 to 2000 meters as a large sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte, this robust plant has leafy green canes growing up to 4 ft.+, spikes appear terminally on the canes reflowering year after year, spikes carry pendulous 15" heads (and often multiple heads) of densely packed 1 1/2" flowers, the fleshy and velvety blooms are slightly fragrant of perfume hot pink to purple with a purple four-lobed lip and a white callus, summer bloomer with 2 years to go before they are ready but well worth the wait.

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni. Veg. Beih. 19: 42. Costa Rica Schlechter 1923; Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni. Veg. Beih. 19: 123. Costa Rica Schlechter 1923; AOS Bulletin Vol 33 No 7 1964 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 49 No 12 1980 photo; Vanishing Beauty; Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 1 Pupulin 2005; Icones Orchidacearum 2 Plate 166 Hagsater & Sanchez 1993 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 3 Plate 391 Hagsater & Sanchez 1999 See recognition section Icones Orchidacearum Vol 11 Plate 1157 Hagsater & Sanchez 2008

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