RHH's photos with the keyword: 14/12/12

A hybrid of Rumrillara Rosaleen and Ascocenda Rumrill.

Lepanthes escobariana belongs to the group of Central and South American orchids referred to as pleurothallids. It comes from Colombia and is named for a Colombian orchid grower, Rodrigo Escobar. It is one of the more desirable Lepanthes species because of the large size of its flowers in relation to the plant. The flowers are about 2 cm tall and are carried on long, successively-flowered spikes that arise from single-leaved growths about 3-4 cm tall. The intricate flowers are nearly transparent and beautifully and brightly colored like most Lepanthes.

To the best of my knowledge this is the Few-flowered Shooting Star, Dodecatheon pulchellum. We found this growing on an open rocky shoreline in Washington Park where it must have to be tolerant of salt water. I've posted this picture though I have a number of others on my blog because I thought both the flower itself and the flower against this background captured something of the reason for the name "Shooting Star."