Cryptochilus sanguineus: The Red Fishbone Orchid Puts Forth Its Brilliant Flowers Spring Through Summer

摘要

IF YOU ARE UP ON LATIN AND Greek, the name Cryptochilus sanguineus clearly describes the flower of this uncommon species. From the Greek krypto (hidden) and cheilos (lip) and from the Latin sanguinea (blood-red) you have a word picture of this scarlet-red flower where you can see only the sepals, fused into a tube, hiding the bright yellow lip and column. The outsides of the flowers are covered with fine hairs and the tips of the sepaline tube are brushed a dark purple-red, adding to the drama. The arrangement of the green floral bracts in a distinctive fishbone pattern gives rise to its common name, the red fishbone orchid.