Sophronitis coccinea (Lindl.) Rchb. f. 1862
Plant on tree trunk at 900 meters in mist forest.
Several Plants on a tree in cloud forest
Photos courtesy of Jay Pfahl
Photo courtesy of Mauro Peixoto Copyrighted and his Brazilian Plants Website
to 
Common Name The Scarlet Sophronitis
Flower Size 1 1/2 to 3" [3 to 7 cm]
A miniature, cool to warm growing epiphyte or sometimes lithophyte from southeastern Brazil [Rio de Janiero to Rio do Sul States] mainly in the tropical coastal forest [mata atlantica]that covers the coastal mountain range [Serra do Mar] to at elevations of 650 to 1670 meters in cool montane forests on slender moss covered trees or on rocks in sheltered or exposed conditions, with fusiform, closely packed psuedobulbs with a single elliptic, erect, coriaceous, 2 1/2" leaf, and an apical, erect to arching, 1 1/4" to 3" [3 to 7.5 cm] long inflorescence with a single non-fragrant, long-lasting flower that appears in spring in cultivation and fall and early winter in Brazil. Good ventilation, cool to cold temperatures, bright light and a wet environment with regular fertilizer year round will keep this minature plant thriving. This specfies in it's range has an average summer temperature of 80 degrees and a winter average of 45 degrees.
Synonyms *Cattleya coccinea Lindley 1836; Cattleya grandiflora [Lindley]Beer 1854; Eunannos coccinea [Lindley] Porto & Brade 1933; Hadrolaelia coccinea ( Lindl. ) Chiron & V.P.Castro 2002; Sophronia coccinea Kuntze 1891; Sophronia militaris Kuntze 1891; Sophronitis coccinea f. rossiteriana [Barb. Rodr.] Pabst & Dungs. 1972; Sophronitis grandiflora Lindley 1837; Sophronitis lowii [Hort.]Curtis 1923; Sophronitis militaris Rchb.f 1861; Sophronitis rossiteriana Barb. Rodr. 1877
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Xenia Orchidaceae Vol 3 Reichenbach 1896 as S militaris drawing fide; Cattleyas and Their Relatives Withner Vol 3 1990; AOS Bulletin Vol 62 No 2 1993 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 63 No 2 1994 photo; Orchids of the High Mountain Atlantic Rainforest in SE Brazil Warren & Miller 1994 as S coccinea var grandiflora; AOS Bulletin Vol 64 No 7 1995 photo as S coccinea var grandiflora; AOS Bulletin Vol 65 No 6 1996 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 66 No 11 1997 photo; Orchid Australia Vol 12 No 2 2000 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 70 No 7 2001 drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 72 No 7 2003 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 5 2004 photo; Orchid Digest Vol 71 No 1 2007 photo;
Sophronitis coccinea (Lindl.) Rchb. f. 1862 var flava
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Cattleyas and Their Relatives Withner Vol 3 1990;
Sophronitis coccinea var lobbii'hort. ex Decker
A pure yellow variety from Brazil.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Cattleyas and Their Relatives Withner Vol 3 1990;
Sophronitis coccinea var xanthoglossa
A yellow lipped variety of the normal species.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Cattleyas and Their Relatives Withner Vol 3 1990;
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