Scaphosepalum merinoi

In Explore, March 18, 2012, #159.

Scaphosepalums are a group of small orchids belonging to the Pleurothallidinae and are related to Masdevallia. Many of them have the long "horns" like this flower and are "upside down" by the standard of most orchids, with the column at the bottom of the flower rather than the top. This flower is on a plant several inches tall that has successively blooming flower spikes 4-6 inches long. The flowers themselves are nearly two inches from tip to tip. It comes from Ecuador.