Mormodes colossus Rchb. f. 1852 Photo by © Eric Hunt and His Orchid Website

Common Name The Gigantic Mormodes

Flower Size 4 3/4" [to 12 cm]

Found in Costa Rica and Panama at elevations of 1200 and 2100 meters in montane forests as a large sized, warm growing epiphyte with almost cylindric, tapering pseudobulbs carrying a few plicate, deciduous leaves with persistent leaf bases below that blooms arising from near the base, to 2' [60 cm] long, arching, racemose inflorescence carrying color and size variable, fragrant flowers occuring in the spring.

Synonyms Mormodes wendlandii Rchb.f. 1863

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni. Veg. Beih. 19: 224. Costa Rica Schlechter 1923; AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 6 1958; AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 9 1958 drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 26 No 2 1957; AOS Bulletin Vol 31 No 9 1962 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 31 No 9 1962 photo as M wendlandii; AOS Bulletin Vol 32 No 3 1963 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 33 no 7 1964 photo; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; AOS Bulletin Vol 52 No 9 1983 photo;

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