Porroglossum meridionale

It seems to be Porroglossum season.  Almost all of mine are in bloom at the moment.  Porroglossum meridionale is another species from this genus of insect-trapping flowers.  The flowers have hinged lips and  when disturbed by a small insect the lip suddenly snaps up trapping the insect against the column, effecting pollination.  Most of the pictures show the lip open but the close-up photo shows it shut against the column.  The plant is 6 cm tall, the flower spikes 10 cm in length, and the flowers 1.5 cm.  It hails from Peru.

Porroglossum meridionale

Porroglossum meridionale is another species from a genus of insect-trapping flowers with hinged lips.  When disturbed by a small insect the lip suddenly snaps up trapping the insect against the column and effecting pollination.  I've provided pictures of the flowers with the lip in both positions.  This plant is 6 cm tall, the flower spikes 10 cm in length, and the flowers 1.5 cm.

Porroglossum meridionale

Porroglossum meridionale is a miniature species from Peru that belongs to the Pleurothallids, looks like a tiny Masdevallia, and was, in fact, once classified as a Masdevallia.  The Porroglossums are distinct, however, in having a hinged and moveable lip that swings up against the column when the flower is visited by a pollinating insect or bumped by a curious onlooker.  The plant is 6 cm tall, the flower spikes 10 cm in length and the flowers 1.5 cm.  The flowers are nearly translucent.

 flower with the lip flipped up against the column