Homalopetalum pumilio

Homalopetalum pumilio is a tiny species from Mexico and Central America and is related to Cattleya.  The plant with its tiny pseudobulbs and leaves is only 2 cm tall.  They grow in succession and each growth produces one flower.  The flowers dwarf the plant at 4 cm, though flower size varies considerably with the plants from Mexico having larger flowers than those from Central America.  The flowers from the Mexican cersion are also more white than the green flowers from Central America.

Homalopetalum pumilio

Homalopetalum pumilio is a tiny relative of the huge Cattleyas, the smallest of which dwarf this micro-miniature plant. It is from Mexico, Central America and western South America. It has tiny pseudobulbs 5 mm tall with a leave at the top of the pseudobulb that is 8 mm long. The flowers, however, are huge for the size of the plant, 5-6 cm tall that either green or whitish-green in color. The flowers come singly on wiry inflorescences that are around 5 cm long. It is one of my favorite miniature orchids.