Bucket orchid, Angel wing orchid, Grasshopper orchid.

Description:

Coryanthes has lancelet leaves and flowers on long stems, with flower buds that resemble man in moon. Epidendrum flowers at apex of long slim stems of lilac flowers. Gongora is a large leaved plant with up to twenty small flowers on long stems with light cinnamon fragrance.

Habitat:

Litoral forest, medium height trees, wet and humid.

Notes:

Rare instance of three different species (Coryanthes speciosum, Epidendrum flexuosum and Gongora atropurpurea, growing on one root ball in symbiosis with Azteca ants. Coryanthes and Epidenrum flexuosum are known for this symbiosis, as the ants protect them from predators and provide fertilizer, but I've yet to find a Gongora growing in an "ant garden." The other curious thing is that I could not find another Gongora within miles of the patch of forest where the root ball was found. I have a research permit from Brazilian environmental protection agency IBAMA to collect specimen for research. Normally I only take photos, but because of the uniqueness of this find I collected this grouping. When I found them about a year ago the Gongora was little more than a seedling, but it grew fast and flowered within the year.