This is an orchid we found growing abundantly in cool wet forest in Costa Roca on the Poas volcano. It is a medium sized plant that produces masses of flowers at the junction of stalk and leaf. The photo above was taken in Costa Rica by one of the students on our 2005 expedition and shows how the flowers shine out when caught in a shaft of sunlight breaking through the lush canopy above.

• We grow the species mounted and in pots in Cool Americas and keep it watered all year to reflect the climate it has evolved for.