Kalopternix sophronitis (Linden & Rchb. f.) Garay & Dunst. 1976 Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt, plant grown by Hanging Gardens

Another Flower Photo by Dale Borders

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Common Name The Modest Kalopternix

Flower Size to about 1 1/2" [to 4 cm]

A Peruvian and Ecuadorian small sized, warm to cold, pendant growing species at elevations of 1500 to 3500 meters in very wet, montane forests, found very low on tree trunks in deep shade with constant moisture. The stems are enveloped with 4 to 5 distichous, imbricating, lanceolate, ballooning sheaths graduated in size from the base to the apex ballooning over the base of the oblong to broadly elliptic, conduplicate below intothe clapsing base leaves carrying fleshy flowers close in to the leaf base , inside the midrib of the leaf and that is partially concealed by the uppermost sheath on a terminal, subsessile, very short, 1 to 4 succesive flowered, racemose inflorescence arising on mature canes occuring in the spring and summer.

Synonyms Epidendrum sophronitis Linden & Rchb. f. 1867 ; Hormidium sophronitis Benth. & Hook. f. 1899;

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Fieldiana Biology, Vol 33, 1st Supple. to the Orchids of Peru Scweinfurth 1970 as Epiodendrum sophronitis; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 928 Dodson 1984; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 5 COS 1994 as E sophronitis; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 472 Bennett & Christenson 1998 as Epidendrum sophronitis

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