Acostaea sp.

This is an Acostaea species in which I cannot determine with accuracy. It was sold to me as Acostaea costaricensis, but I somehow doubt this is the correct identification.

This is a micro mini orchid with micro mini flowers. Leaves are about 5 mm long. Blossoms are about 3 mm from front to back, 4 mm tall, and about 1.5 mm across. The entire plant is about 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm.

When this plant blooms, the flowers come out in numbers!

The hood of the flower is the dorsal sepal. The "bottom jaw" are the synsepals. The petals are tiny and are long, thin, and blade like. The lip looks like a tongue. Unfortunately, the flower's column is so obscured, I cannot see what it actually looks like, nor can I see where the anther cap or stigmatic surface is.

Awesome little species.

Makes me wish I can afford a macro lens.

 

Check this out! Just found this out today. They have hinged lips just like Porroglossums do!

If the flower is touched in the right way, the lip will snap upwards toward the column.

 

These photos show the lip when it is not drawn up.

Each flower appears to last about 1 week.