Photo by Karol Villena of the "Vivero Agroriente" orchid nursery.

Phragmipedium kovachii Atwood, Dalström & Fernandez 2002

Section: Micropetalum Hallier
Derivation/Pronunciation: frag-muh-PEE-dee-umkoh-VACK-ee-eye
Named for Michael Kovach of Goldvein, Virginia, discoverer of this species.
Plant: A caespitose terrestrial, apparently not forming elongate rhizomes; Roots thick, to 4 mm in diameter. Leaves 3 or more basal distichous, lacking articulations, blades ligulate, according to collector notes to 64 x 4 cm, but mostly much smaller, rather thick and coriaceous, keeled beneath, sharply acute.
Flowers: See illustrations. One flower per scape on the type specimen (two possible according to the discoverer of the species), 11 cm across (to 15 cm according by verbal reports); sepals greenish flushed and lined with reddish purple, petals reddish purple within, reddish purple without and white centrally; lip reddish purple, lighter within, with yellow margins; staminode purple with white apex. Sepals somewhat concave, densely golden-brown-pubescent without; dorsal 4.5 x 3 cm, broadly elliptic, obtuse; synsepal 5 x 3.7 cm, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, obtuse. Labellum is saccate with the apex turned up in front and the margin infolded, pubescent within at the base. Staminode 1.3 x 2 cm, convex, triangular to rhombic, anthers nearly touching the stigmas; stigmas three, the median stigma particularly large, ca. 1 cm long. Mature fruit unknown. Inflorescence about 23-25 cm tall, pubescent, purple, with a single green scape bract 7~9 cm long; ovary ca. 8 cm long, brown pubescent, subtended by an acute floral bract 4-5.5 cm long.
Fragrant: n/a
Bloomtimes: n/a
Habitat: n/a
Distribution: NE Peru.
Culture: n/a

PLEASE NOTE: no legal specimens of this species are available in the United States or Europe. Please do not support the illegal removal of this plant from its native habitat. If you see this plant offered for sale as anything other than flasked seedlings, do NOT buy it.

Large flowers! Photos by Michael Kovach, the discoverer of this plant, which is named in his honor.

 

Photos by Karol Villena of the "Vivero Agroriente" orchid nursery.

 

 

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Last Modified: July 12, 2002 by Joseph Dougherty

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