Delicate Violet Orchid

Ionopsis utricularioides is one of the most widely ranging species of neotropical orchids. It occurs in several different variants, all of which intergrade. The various extreme forms, some with relatively enormous flowers, have been given form names, but little other than size separates them.

Plants to 15 cm (excluding inflorescence). Leaves often suffused with purple-brown; blade 3–13 cm × 6–18 mm. Inflorescences 1–3, erect-arching, to 20 cm; bracts 2–3 mm. Flowers pale pink to rose, pink-lavender, or white with pink flush, with darker rose-colored veins; sepals 3–7 × 1–2 mm; lateral sepals forming asymmetrically pouched cavity; petals 5–7 × 3–4 mm; lip pink-lavender with yellow patch near callus, 6–17 × 6–18 mm; callus of 2 lamellae and 2 lateral teeth, with short, basal, nectar horn, enclosed by nectar spur formed by lateral sepals.

Fla.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America.

Flowering Mar--Apr.

Epiphytic on small branches and twigs in hammocks; 0--10[--1200]m.

Epidendrum utricularioides Swartz, Prodr., 122. 1788

Ionopsis utricularioides, the delicate violet orchid, is an epiphytic orchid native to the warmer parts of the Americas. It is reported from Florida, Mexico (from Nayarit to Quntana Roo), Central America (all 7 countries), much of the West Indies including the Cayman Islands, South America as far south as Paraguay, and the Galápagos.