Name: Sudamerlycaste lata (Rolfe) Archila

Synonyms: Ida lata; Ida portillae; Lycaste fowliei; Lycaste lata; Sudamerlycaste fowliei

Etymology: The epithet lata is Latin and means “broad.”

First description: The species was described by Robert Allen Rolfe in 1910 as Lycaste lata; the combination Sudamerlycaste lata was published by G. Archila in 2002.

Origin / Habitat: Peru and Ecuador, in moist montane forests. It grows predominantly terrestrially, occasionally epiphytically.

Description & Care: Sympodially growing orchid with pseudobulbs and several short flower spikes per pseudobulb. The waxy, whitish-green flowers can appear over several weeks. We cultivate it in bright to slightly shaded conditions, with good air circulation and consistent moisture during growth. We keep it at moderate temperatures, around 16–26 °C.

In vitro culture: You will receive a flask containing 4 young plants. The plants are usually already large enough to be deflasked. After completely removing the growth medium, we pot them in a fine, airy, yet slightly moisture-retaining substrate of fine bark, some sphagnum, and mineral additives. During the first few weeks, we recommend around 18–23 °C, high humidity, good air circulation, and bright, protected light. Keep the substrate evenly slightly moist, but avoid waterlogging; a pronounced dry rest is not advisable for freshly deflasked young plants. Subsequently, gradually acclimate them to normal moderate cultivation conditions.