Name: Maxillaria schunkeana Campacci & Kautsky 
Synonyms: Brasiliorchis schunkeana (Campacci & Kautsky) R.B.Singer, S.Koehler & Carnevali
Etymology: schunkeana = named in honor of Vital Schunk, a Brazilian orchid collector who discovered the type specimen.
 
First description: 1993 by Marcos Antonio Campacci and Claudio Kautsky in Orquidário (7: 136).
Origin / Distribution: Brazil (state of Espírito Santo).
Location / Habitat: Growing epiphytically in the moist, shady rainforests of the Atlantic coastal forest (Mata Atlântica) at low to mid elevations of approximately 600 to 700 meters. It thrives in a consistently warm to intermediate, very humid climate in the deep shade of the understory.
Description & Notes: Maxillaria schunkeana is a world-famous miniature orchid known for its fascinating, extremely dark flowers, which appear almost completely black (actually a deep, saturated black-violet). The plant grows compactly, with small, egg-shaped pseudobulbs, each bearing two narrow, upright, fresh green leaves. The fleshy flowers, about 1 to 1.5 cm in size, appear singly on short stems directly at the base of the mature pseudobulb and often last for several weeks.

In cultivation, this species requires temperate to warm conditions year-round and, because it comes from an ever-moist habitat, must never be allowed to dry out completely. The growing medium (e.g., fine bark mixed with sphagnum moss) should be kept evenly moist at all times. Important requirements include a shady to semi-shady location, consistently high humidity of over 70%, and good air circulation to prevent water from sitting on the leaves.