Name: Stanhopea embreei Dodson

Etymology: The genus name Stanhopea honors Philip Henry Stanhope, the fourth Earl Stanhope. The epithet embreei commemorates Alvin Embree.

First described by: Calaway H. Dodson, 1975.

Origin/Distribution: Western Ecuador.

Habitat: Epiphytic in moist montane forests on the western slopes of the Andes, at elevations of approximately 600–1,200 m. It prefers partial shade, high humidity, and intermediate temperatures of around 15–25 °C.

Description and cultivation notes: Stanhopea embreei produces ribbed pseudobulbs, each bearing a single large leaf. The large, waxy, intensely fragrant flowers appear on pendulous inflorescences and have pale ground colors with dark markings on the complex lip. For this reason, we grow the plant in an open slatted or wire basket. During growth, it receives plenty of water and weak fertilizer; once the pseudobulbs have matured, watering can be reduced.