No images found for this plant ID: 5776.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "5776" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
flor de pasmo
Scientific Name: Bletia patula var. alba
Family: Orchidaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Bletia patula: Flor de Pasmo
Bletia patula, commonly known as Flor de Pasmo (Spanish), is a captivating orchid with a wide distribution across the Americas.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Bletia patula Graham
- Common Name: Flor de Pasmo
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Order: Asparagales
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Variety: Bletia patula var. patula Graham
- Synonym: Bletia patula var. alba A.D. Hawkes
Distribution and Habitat
Bletia patula is found in Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America, and was historically present in South Florida. It is also reported in Hispaniola, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. This orchid often grows as a lithophyte, wedged between rocks on slopes in disturbed, rainy hillsides.
Morphological Characteristics
Bletia patula is described as a forb/herb, meaning it is a non-woody plant that isn't a grass. It is also noted as being a fragrant orchid.
Quirky Facts
- The name "Flor de Pasmo" translates from Spanish as "flower of spasm" or "flower of awe," possibly alluding to its striking appearance or purported medicinal uses in traditional contexts, but also the cause of some kind of ailment.
Further Information
- Discover Life offers detailed information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Bletia patula.