This terrestrial orchid has an improbably broad range including tropical Africa, Florida, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Curiously, it is not found in the Asian tropics. Previous offerings of this genus have been strictly Madagascan species: O. calcarata (ISI 2001-40), O. roseo-variegata (ISI 2001-41), O. spathulifera (ISI 2000-62) and O. sp. Analalava (ISI 2002-34). (All are still available at $30 each.) O. maculata is similar to the others in its small size and cryptically colored leaves that are silvery-green with darker green markings. It has larger flowers than the others though still only about a 15 mm across but distinctly orchidaceous, like a Cymbidium corsage in miniature. HBG 90228, from controlled pollination of plants originally from Tolanaro (Ft. Dauphin), Madagascar. $20.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 76 (2), March - April, 2004