Porroglossum mordax

Porroglossum mordax (Rchb.f.) Sweet

This unusual species is a native of central and western Colombia and was the type used by Schlechter to establish the genus in 1920 as P. colombianum Schltr. However Reichenbach had named this species back in 1886 as Masdevallia mordax and was moved to Porroglossum by Sweet in 1970.

It is a very easy grower and makes a very interesting addition to a cool to intermediate garden or bush house collection. The large blooms are produced in succession on an erect stem.