!Sophronitis cernua Lindley 1828 Photos courtesy of Sandra M. Vila
Plant in situ at elevation 2 meters on Sao Paulo State, Brazil beach 100 metrers from the sea Photos courtesy of Jay Pfahl
Another view Photo courtesy of Dale and Deni Borders
Common Name The Nodding Sophronitis
Flower Size 1" to 1 1/4" [2.2 to 2.7 cm]
A miniature sized, south eastern Brazil species that can be found as far inland as Bolivia and Paraguay [S pterocarpa] and grows epiphytically and occasionally lithophytically as a warm growing orchid that has densely clustered, subcylindric or ovoid pseudobulb with 2 or 3 basal nodes and carrying a single, apical, thickly coriaceosu, broadly ovate or elliptic-ovate, obtuse or minutely apiculate leaf that blooms on a terminal, erect, 1" to 2" [2 to 5 cm] long, few [4 to 10] flowered inflorescence with nodding flowers occuring in the spring. Mount this species on cork and give hot to warm temperatures, bright light, high humidity, and year round water with less in cooler weather. This species is found at sealevel in Espiritu Santo south to Sao Paulo state on rocky slopes or trees often so close to the sea that a slight salt spray can reach them. They can be found in Seaside mangrove hammocks and then as one goes inland on the littoral plain to the coastal foothilss can be found high above the canopy in lowland trees with full sun and a constant breeze so as to keep them dry even though they are in rainforest conditions.. Temp can range from 50 to 110 degrees.
Synonyms Cattleya cernua [Lindley]Beer 1854; Cattleya pterocarpa (Lindl. & Paxton) Beer 1854; Epidendrum humile Vell. 1881; Sophronia cernua Lindl. 1827; Sophronia modesta Lindl. 1827; Sophronia pterocarpa (Lindl. & Paxton) Kuntze 1891; Sophronitis cernua vr litoanea hort.; Sophronitis cernua var mineira hort; Sophronitis hoffmannseggii Rchb.f 1842; Sophronitis isopetala Hoffmansegg 1842; Sophronitis modesta Lindley 1828; Sophronitis nutans Hoffmansegg 1842; Sophronitis pendula Hoffmansegg ? ; Sophronitis pterocarpa Lindl. & Paxt. 1853
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; AOS Bulletin Vol 39 No 5 1070 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 47 No 7 1978 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 47 No 7 1978 as S pterocarpa;p AOS Bulletin Vol 57 No 2 1988 photo; Cattleyas and Their Relatives Withner Vol 3 1990; Cattleyas and Their Relatives Withner Vol 3 1990 as S pterocarpa; Orchid Australia Vol 11 No 6 1999 photo; Orchids Australia Vol 12 No 6 2000 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 72 No 7 2003 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 5 2004 photo; Australian Orchid Review Vol 72 No 4 2007 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 77 No 11 2008
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