Native to Mexico
Edited 11 May 2007
Photo by Guillermo Angulo - Tegualda Gardens
This species is large, showy, and fragrant. It blooms in the summer. There is some question as to whether or not Stanhopea nigroviolacea is valid as a separate species. Dr. Rudolf Jenny considers it to be a dark-colored variant of Stanhopea tigrina Bateman ex Lindley.
"For now, Stan. nigroviolacea
should be maintained as a variety of Stan. tigrina, this based on the
illustration by Morren and the indications by Kennedy in 1977" (Jenny 1999)
Interesting comment, as the point of Kennedy's article was to highlight the differences between S. tigrina and S. nigroviolacea. In particular, he writes of S. nigroviolacea "...petals largely of a solid maroon color; the hypochile is very much thicker [rounded and bulbous] than S. tigrina, the horns surrounding the epichile are substantially thicker, the column is much less arched, and it accepts a somewhat smaller pollinator than Bateman's S. tigrina."
Kennedy explained the taxonomic history thusly: "This plant [with dominant maroon petals and deep hypochile] was originally described as S. tigrina var. nigroviolacea [by] Morren...1845... It was later elevated to specific rank, Stanhopea nigroviolacea (Morr.) Beer...[in] 1854."
Auguste Morren was known for his work on algaes (1804-1870; source: IPNI).
Johann Georg Beer was an Austrian taxonomist (1803-1873; source: IPNI).
This page exists as a place to include photos and information about plants with this dark coloration. Please feel free to send comments.
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The photo at right, taken by Julie Walkosky, depicts Stanhopea nigroviolacea var. albescens 'Greenleaf Gold'.
Greenleaf Orchids is an internet-based mailorder business in Duluth, Georgia, owned and operated by Tom Kaschak
(website).
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The photo at left and the one below were supplied by Pedro Glucksmann, of Caracas, Venezuela.
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Links to additional photos of this species:
By Max Fulcher
in Australia, author of the new book, the enchanted orchid. Max also does marvelous graphics! See his Stan. nigroviolacea here
By
FloraFest Orchids in Australia
By
an anonymous photographer in Vienna from the Austrian Orchid Society on 16 June 2000, perhaps Manfred Schmucker?
By
Greg Steenbeeke of Orkology Kreations in Australia
OSCOV
award to this species:
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Printed References:
Paul G. Bechtel (Sept. 1997) 'The FCCs of 1996,' in: Orchids, p.904-909. [S. tigrina var. nigroviolacea]
Johann Georg Beer (1854) species elevated to specific rank, as Stanhopea nigroviolacea (Morr.) Beer, in: Pract. Stud. Orch. 313.
Rudolf Jenny (1999) "A Study in Variation" in: Orchids 68(12).
George C. Kennedy (1977) "Two Confused Stanhopea Species, Stanhopea tigrina and Stanhopea nigroviolacea," in: Orchid Digest 41: 219-221 [3 color photos; 1 B&W].
Auguste Morren (June 1845) first publication, as Stanhopea tigrina var. nigroviolcea, in: Ann. Soc. Bot. Gard. 1:233, t.21.
Web References:
International Plant Names Index [IPNI],
www.ipni.org.
