Object Details
Description
Guarianthe skinneri is a medium sized orchid which is well-known in the US for blooming in the spring around Easter.
Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere)
October to June; peak in February to May
Ethnobotanical Uses
In Guatemala this flower goes by the name flor de San Sebastian and is used to decorate churches on the saint's day. This orchid is also the national flower of Costa Rica.
Pollination Syndrome
Bee (Euglossa viridissima), attracted by food deception
Provenance
From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Accession Number
2009-0387A
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Life Form
Epiphytic
Bloom Characteristics
Erect inflorescence is up to 5.5" (14 cm) long and has 4-12 pink flowers which may not all open at the same time. Flowers are 3.5" (9 cm) across.
Foliage Characteristics
Bifoliate
Fragrance
Fragrant
Plant Size
15-26" x 8-15" (38-66 x 20-38 cm), excluding inflorescence
Range
S Mexico to C America
Habitat
Wet montane forests; 650-7545ft (200-2300m)
See more items in
Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection
Common Name
Guaria Morada
Skinner's Guarianthe
Candelaria
The Easter Orchid
Flor de San Sebastian
Skinner's Cattleya
Group
[vascular plants]
Class
Equisetopsida
Subclass
Magnoliidae
Superorder
Lilianae
Order
Asparagales
Family
Orchidaceae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Genus
Guarianthe
Species
skinneri
Data Source
Smithsonian Gardens
Topic
Orchids
Living Collections
Link to Original Record
Record ID
ofeo-sg_2009-0387A