Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Lithophyte, Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Panamá , Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A terrestrial or lithophytic orchid. It has a clumping growth form. The ovate pseudobulbs are covered with papery sheaths. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The large leaves are simple and lanceolate-elliptic in shape with a plicate leaf surface. |
| Flowers | The flowers are borne on a long basal raceme with 10 to 15 waxy flowers. The flowers are fragrant and cup-shaped with white petals and sepals. The flower lip is white with purple speckles around its margin. The flowers open over a long period with only 4 to 6 flowers being open at any one time. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | It is the national flower of Panamá. |
| Habitat | It is found in shaded grassland edges and stone outcrops in tropical forests at altitudes of 100 to 700m. |
| Cultivation | It is best grown under full sun, in well-drained and moist growing media so as to allow to frequent watering. It does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet 'peristeria' is derived from the Greek word for 'little dove' in reference to its flowers. The species epithet comes from the latin word 'meaning high or lofty'. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Naturalistic Garden |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks | It does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Division, Tissue Culture |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31492 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5889 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |