Name: Kefersteinia sanguinolenta Rchb.f.

Synonyms: Chondrorhyncha sanguinolenta (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.

Etymology: The genus name Kefersteinia commemorates the German orchid enthusiast Adolf Keferstein. The Latin sanguinolenta roughly means “bloodstained” and refers to the reddish markings on the flowers.

First described: Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, 1852.

Origin/Distribution: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Habitat: Epiphytic in very humid montane and cloud forests of the Andes, usually on shady, moss-covered trunks at elevations of about 600–1,800 m. Cool to intermediate temperatures of approximately 13–24 °C, high humidity, and steady, gentle air movement are suitable.

Description and notes: This compact orchid has no pseudobulbs and produces thin, light-green leaves arranged in fans. Short inflorescences each bear a waxy, creamy-white to pale-green flower with crimson dots and stripes; particularly distinctive is its broadly formed lip. We grow the delicate roots in sphagnum or a very fine, airy bark mix, keeping them consistently slightly moist but never waterlogged. A shady location, low-mineral water, and humidity above about 70% are beneficial.