MarilyninOttawa
Orchids with names beginning with 'B' - Bletia All images unless otherwise noted were made available for educational purposes by EW Greenwood. Photographic credit is requested where indicated by 'EWG' .

There are about 35 species of the genus Bletia (bleh_tee_yah) which honors Luis Blet, a Spanish naturalist and pharmacist who maintained a botanical garden in Algeciras, Spain. He was a contemporary of the Spanish plant explorers, Ruiz and Pavon.

The genus Bletia is a member of the Tribe Arethuseae, subtribe Bletiinae and so is closely allied to genera such as Calanthe, Calopogon, Phaius, Spathoglottis as well as the Asian genus, Bletilla.

John in Arcadia Ca
Have they ever been crossed with any of these genera? Could be quite interesting and maybe they might grow outside here.

MarilyninOttawa
I understand that some attempts have been made to hybridize within the group but have never seen the progeny.

All Bletias are New World terrestrial orchids found from Florida in the north to Brazil in the south. The habitat varies with species but a distinct annual dry season is usually preferred when flowering often occurs. Plants can be found singly or in crowded colonies growing on sparsely vegetated slopes, sometimes in crevices of weathered exposed rock and lava. Here we can see a group of Bletia purpurea growing on a seasonally moist rocky slope near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This species is widespread and found in many tropical gardens. (photo EWG).

The characteristics of Bletia species:

1) compact, often below ground pseudobulbs (corms) having several nodes. Bletia plants have flattened to globose pseudobulbs (corms) which may be partly to fully covered by soil. New shoots will arise from the base of the corm but occasionally, offsets form elsewhere. The corms are compressed stems with several nodes which appear as concentric rings. These nodes produce buds which give rise to flower spikes. Inflorescences are thus lateral. Several can be produced from a corm. Some species produce chains of older pseudobulbs attached to each other by a short stout rhizome. You can see that the pictured corms are not green or reddish brown. More or less colorless corms indicates that these were covered by soil. The bud for the next growth can just be seen on the lower right of the largest corm. There are two nodes just visible especially in the smallest corm. (Photo EWG)

2) plicate deciduous foliage The one to three long, somewhat narrow pleated leaves may be present or absent at the time of flowering. The shoots emerge with several sheathing bracts of variable length. When attempting to identify Bletia species, it can be helpful to note the number and dimensions of leaves as well as the number and length of the sheathing bracts. Here we can see the palm-like foliage of Bletia purpurea (photo EWG). picture

3) lateral inflorescence arising from nodes

4) eight pollinia with soft mealy pollen...and...
5) sticky caudicles which facilitate the attachment of pollinia to visiting insects. Looking at the undersurface of the column of Bletia rosea, we can see the rosy pink anther cap just covering some of the yellow pollinia. The sticky stigma is located just to the front of the pollinia. The tiny red speck located just beneath the stigma to the right is a red spider mite which probably had been feeding on the plant. (Photo EWG) picture

6) a showy lip with a callus, sometimes with one to several parallel crests The example is the lip and column of Bletia gracilis showing the single prominent wavy crest. For later reference, the outer lip portion (epichile) is greenish yellow. The inner lip or hypochile is heavily veined red purple. The anther cap in this species is white. (Photo EWG) picture

Since many Bletia species have superficially similar purple pink flowers, confusion has arisen as to the correct name to be applied to a particular specimen. Difficulties arise also with the closed flowers self pollinating forms which can appear quite different to the more open outcrossing individuals. Here we see a partly closed flower with 5 cream-yellow crests visible on the lip. This flower looks superficially like that of Bletia campanulata but Ed Greenwood was not confident of this diagnosis and so it is unnamed. (Photo EWG) picture

Fruits at maturity are elongate, ribbed, measuring about 2 inches in length. (Photo EWG) picture

Small to medium-sized flowers are produced singly or in scapes of 2 to 20 or even more blooms which may open successively on the upper third of the scape. Flowers can be fully open as in Bletia gracilis (Photo EWG)

Flowers can be completely closed in auto-pollinating forms. More typically, the petals form a hood over the column as in Bletia warfordiana. (Photo EWG) picture

Some populations have developed self-pollination abilities but most species are likely pollinated by various bees. The great similarity between many of the purple-flowered species has challenged taxonomists. As with many orchids, distinctive floral characters can involve the lip. It is helpful to note the shape of the lip including the number of lobes and the presence and number of parallel crests on the lip callus. If you ever find yourself looking at plant in nature, take a close look at the flowers and foliage for some of the identifying features discussed here. We can just make out the leaf and rose-pink flower of this specimen found blooming in August on a Mexican hillside at 1950 meters. (Photo EWG)

Some research into artificial propagation of Bletia has been reported including 'In Vitro Germination and Early Growth of Seedlings of Two Species of Bletia (Orchidaceae)' and 'Asymbiotic and Symbiotic Germination and Growth of Bletia gracilis (Orchidaceae)' Scroll through the several abstracts to find the the intersting observations. button

Some of these are charming and deserve to be better known. They are easy to raise from seed as indicated in the previous link.

In Florida, USA, three species of Bletia can be found. Details can be found at the following site. button

The Haitian Pinepink, Bletia patula, grows in sandy pine woodland in southeastern Florida where it is very rare. This spring-blooming orchid is widely distributed throughout the Caribbean from Cuba, Puerto Rico to Martinique. Plants can have metre-tall inflorescences.

Doug
Jose and I propose to cross some sibs from the patula popultions on Puerto Rico and see if seed can be grown. The long inflorence in patula appears to enable the flower to open above waist high grass among which the Bletia patula plants were growing.

MarilyninOttawa
Great idea. Be careful to choose the most open flowers so as to avoid self pollinating forms. That certainly seems like a good conclusion [about the grass]. How would these plants manage without the support of the grass? Grow them in a garden situation or cut the grass around existing plants before they bloom.

Doug
Oddly enough, a rash of blooming occurs when high grass is cut, allowing the plants to see increased light levels (personal observation in PR)

N_Calif_Kathy
Shorter inflorescences then?

MarilyninOttawa
Possibly. I expect that might happen.

MarilyninOttawa
The Pinepink or Purple Bletia, Bletia purpurea, is a Florida native that is threatened by both habitat loss and collecting. A white-flowered form is known. The more typical purple-pink flowers are showy and produced in large numbers from sometimes branched scapes. These are big plants that can form large colonies on slopes in pine forests and grassy savannahs. They may also be found growing in moist locales including raised hummocks in wetlands. Pseudobulbs are usually beneath the soil. The leaves are long and broad, resembling those of young palms. A picture of the flowers can be found at: picture

Although the specific epithet implies Floridian origins, Bletia florida is not native to Florida but now can be found growing there. The Slender Pinepink as it is called, hails from the Caribbean area.

Some species found in Mexico and points south have flowers colored yellow, orange, red, even green. These are somewhat easier to identify in flower but are uncommon in cultivation.

Scarlet-orange-flowered Bletia coccinea of Mexico was known historically as the 'tzacuhtli'. The pseudobulbs of this endemic species were used by Aztecs in pre-Hispanic and colonial times to prepare a glue or gum in the construction of feathered ceremonial garments. Flowers are open with 5 to 7 prominent crests on the lip. Blooming is from June to August. button

Yellow-flowered Bletia adenocarpa is likewise distinctive. A specimen was found blooming at 1800 metres in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico in late July. (Photo EWG) picture

The sepals are spread widely but the petals are tightly hooded over the lip, a trait commonly seen in this genus. Note that the orange-red lip has about three prominent wavy keels. (Photo EWG) picture

Flowers of Bletia adenocarpa measure 1.5 inches. Flowering is from July to September. If we visit the Missouri Botanical Garden W3 TROPICOS site, we can view a herbarium sheet showing the whole plant. button

The bi-colored lip with its single central wavy crest helps us identify colorful Bletia gracilis, a semi-open Mexican species having up to 8 - 1.5 inch flowers per scape in September/October. (Photo EWG) picture

The yellowish green epichile of Bletia gracilis forms a landing platform for pollinators while the sides of the rosy purple hypochile form a passage which directs pollinators. (Photo EWG) picture

Bletia roezlii is recognized by its unusual (for a Bletia) papillose callus. The flower color is also remarkable as is the flower shape. The pale green petals and sepals are open. (Photo EWG)

The lip base and callus are waxy red. The red extends as a flush and veining onto the outer epichile which bends downwards. The distinctive raised reddish papillae are clearly visible on the lip hypochile (Photo EWG) picture

N_Calif_Kathy
That lip is so waxy it looks more like a fly would be attracted to it, rather than a bee. (Looks like rotten meat!)

MarilyninOttawa
That could very well be Kathy although some bees are attracted to meat. I do not know if the pollinator has been determined for this widespread species. I also do not know if there is an odor.

Bletia roezlii is leafy during the blooming season. The one or two broad leaves arise from ovoid corms which are sheathed by bracts. The leaf undersurface is purplish. This widely distributed species grows in oak-dominated habitat in Mexico and adjacent Central America. Flowering is in the July to September period.

Salmon pink-flowered Bletia urbana is one species which has limited distribution and is vulnerable. A reserve has been established in the area of Mexico City where only a few plants remain.

Bletia ensifolia flowers are about 2 inches long. The white ruffled lip is strongly veined rose purple. The callus is green. Petals and sepals are green with purple veins. Flowering is from July to September. (Photo EWG)

Bletia jucunda of Mexico and Guatemala produces one to four large 2.5 inch flowers during the months of October through December when the plant is without foliage. The ruffled rose lip has dark purple veins. The callus is cream and bears 5-7 parallel crests. Petals and sepals are pale rosy pink. (Photo EWG)

Bletia lilacina is a Mexican endemic which is leafless when it blooms from November through March. The smallish, three-quarters of an inch long rosy pink semi-open flowers have a ruffled white lip bearing 5 crests along the callus. (Photo EWG)

Bletia parkinsonii is another Mexican endemic that is leafless when blooming from November through March in oak forest. The narrow flowers open only when in full sun. The flowers have a showy ruffled rose pink lip with a bright yellow callus bearing 4 to 8 crests. The anther cap is also colored rosy pink. The corms are somewhat horizontal. (Photo EWG) About half of all Bletia species are found in Mexico.

Bletia punctata produces smallish 1 inch semi-open flowers having a pointed white lip and yellow callus. Petals and sepals are dotted pink within. Sepals are greenish without. Flowering is in June-July. (Photo EWG)

Bletia rosea blooms in July-August when it produces a few large 2 inch rosy purple flowers. The outer edge of the lip is ruffled. (Photo EWG)

Mexican endemic, Bletia warfordiana, flowers during the August to December period when its leaves are absent. A single small, one inch long flower is produced. Sepals are open while the petals are hooded over the column. The rose purple lip has a cream callus with 3-5 parallel crests. (Photo EWG)

One of the largest Bletias is Bletia catenulata of savannahs in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru. The psedobulbs are about 2.5 inches long. Leaves can be as long as 3 feet and the inflorescence up to six feet tall. The purplish pink flowers are equally large but relatively few are produced during the South American spring season.

More images of different Bletia herbarium sheets can be found at button

Those wishing to grow Bletia species should first learn about the particular needs of a species including its origin, habitat, and seasonal conditions. Water supplied when plants are not in active growth can lead to injurious rots. Bletia purpurea seems to have adapted well to garden culture in the tropics where plants are raised in garden beds and in large tubs. Water and fertilize plants when in active growth. Plants will flower in full sun and semi-shaded conditions and may be grown with other 'ground' orchids such as Spathoglottis plicata.

I am happy to see that I have introduced some new species to the group. I now open the discussion for questions and comments.

N_Calif_Kathy
Marilyn, don't most orchids flower sparsely in nature?

MarilyninOttawa
I really do not know how frequently these plants bloom but one would assume that if the plant grew normally one year and survived with its foliage intact long enough to make up a good corm, it would flower the next season. But there are predators, grasshoppers, goats, fires, etc that can damage foliage and thus impact the plant's ability to store energy for blooming. It is quite possible that there are individuals that flower infrequently as the norm. Long term studies of marked individual plants are needed to answer this question.

It was the late Ed Greenwood who introduced me to the variety of flowers we saw here this session and there are more. We have only seen 11 of the some 40 species.

Sources of supply. As I said, raising at least some of these species from seed seems to be straightforward. Not all species are easy to grow however, and there may be some forms easier than others for various reasons. I was not joking when I said that careful attention must be paid to their deciduous nature. Some of the higher altitude species might require a cold dry rest but I can only speculate as I have not grown these.

jim4eq
Those really were neat Marilyn, I've seen a couple of the Florida ones but had no idea of the range of colors and sizes.

Susan-from-Oregon
I just had NO IDEA! Those are neat little flowers.

Prechat Handout copyright 2003 Marilyn HS Light

There are about 35 species of the genus Bletia (bleh_tee_yah) which honors Luis Blet, a Spanish naturalist. The genus Bletia is a member of the Tribe Arethuseae, subtribe Bletiinae and so is closely allied to genera such as Calanthe, Calopogon, Phaius, Spathoglottis as well as the Asian genus, Bletilla. All Bletias are New World terrestrial orchids found from Florida in the north to Brazil in the south. The habitat varies with species but a distinct annual dry season is usually preferred when flowering often occurs. Plants can be found singly or in crowded colonies growing on sparsely vegetated slopes, sometimes in crevices of weathered exposed rock and lava. Bletia purpurea can grow in moist places including raised hummocks in wetlands. Since many species have superficially similar purple pink flowers, confusion has arisen as to the correct name to be applied to a particular specimen. Furthermore, some species are popular tropical garden plants so can be found outside of their natural range. In a few instances, they have naturalized where there is suitable habitat.

The characteristics of Bletia species:

1 compact, often below ground pseudobulbs (corms) having several nodes
2 plicate deciduous foliage
3 lateral inflorescence arising from nodes
4 eight pollinia with soft mealy pollen
5 sticky caudicles which facilitate the attachment of pollinia to visiting insects.
6 a showy lip with a callus, sometimes with one to several parallel crests

Bletia plants have flattened to globose pseudobulbs (corms) which may be partly to fully covered by soil. New shoots will arise from the base of the corm but occasionally, offsets form elsewhere. The corms are compressed stems with several nodes which appear as concentric rings. These nodes produce buds which give rise to flower spikes. Inflorescences are thus lateral. Several can be produced from a corm. Some species produce chains of older pseudobulbs attached to each other by a short stout rhizome. The one to three long, somewhat narrow pleated leaves may be present or absent at the time of flowering. The shoots emerge with several sheathing bracts of variable length. When attempting to identify Bletia species, it can be helpful to note the number and dimensions of leaves as well as the number and length of the sheathing bracts.

Small to medium-sized flowers are produced singly or in scapes of 2 to 20 or even more blooms which may open successively on the upper third of the scape. Flowers can be fully open as in Bletia patula to completely closed in auto-pollinating forms. More typically, the petals form a hood over the column as in Bletia warfordiana. Some populations have developed self-pollination abilities but most species are likely pollinated by various bees. Fruits at maturity are elongate, ribbed, measuring about 2 inches in length. The great similarity between many of the purple-flowered species has challenged taxonomists. As with many orchids, distinctive floral characters can involve the lip. It is helpful to note the shape of the lip including the number of lobes and the presence and number of parallel crests on the lip callus.

Some research into artificial propagation of Bletia has been reported including 'In Vitro Germination and Early Growth of Seedlings of Two Species of Bletia (Orchidaceae)' and 'Asymbiotic and Symbiotic Germination and Growth of Bletia gracilis (Orchidaceae)'

see http://altweb.jhsph.edu/publications/journals/iva/iva38_suppl/iva38suppl9j.htm for details.

In Florida, USA, three species of Bletia can be found. Details can be found at the following site. http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/browse2.asp?family=ORCHIDACEAE

The Haitian Pinepink, Bletia patula, grows in sandy pine woodland in southeastern Florida where it is very rare. This spring-blooming orchid is widely distributed throughout the Caribbean from Cuba, Puerto Rico to Martinique. Plants can have metre-tall inflorescences.

The Pinepink or Purple Bletia, Bletia purpurea, is a Florida native that is threatened by both habitat loss and collecting. A white-flowered form is known. The more typical purple-pink flowers are showy and produced in large numbers from sometimes branched scapes. These are big plants that can form large colonies on slopes in pine forests and grassy savannahs. They may also be found growing in moist locales. Pseudobulbs are usually beneath the soil. The leaves are long and broad, resembling those of young palms. A picture of the flowers can be found at: http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast?w3till=23503194_001.jpg

Although the specific epithet implies Floridian origins, Bletia florida is not native to Florida but now can be found growing there. The Slender Pinepink as it is called, hails from the Caribbean area.

Some species found in Mexico and points south have flowers colored yellow, orange, red, even green. These are somewhat easier to identify in flower but are uncommon in cultivation.

Scarlet-orange-flowered Bletia coccinea of Mexico was known historically as the 'tzacuhtli'. The pseudobulbs of this endemic species were used by Aztecs in pre-Hispanic and colonial times to prepare a glue or gum in the construction of feathered ceremonial garments. Flowers are open with 5 to 7 prominent crests on the lip. Blooming is from June to August. http://www.ccu.umich.mx/museo/hist-natural/botanica/orquideas/bletia.html

Yellow-flowered Bletia adenocarpa is likewise distinctive. A specimen was found blooming at 1800 metres in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico in late July. The sepals are spread widely but the petals are tightly hooded over the lip, a trait commonly seen in this genus. Note that the orange-red lip has about three prominent wavy keels. Flowers measure 1.5 inches. Flowering is from July to September. If we visit the Missouri Botanical Garden W3 TROPICOS site, we can view a herbarium sheet showing the whole plant. http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast?onda=N23518463

The bi-colored lip with its single central wavy crest helps us identify colorful Bletia gracilis, a semi-open Mexican species having up to 8 - 1.5 inch flowers per scape in September/October. The yellowish green epichile forms a landing platform for pollinators while the sides of the rosy purple hypochile form a passage which directs pollinators.

Bletia roezlii is recognized by its unusual (for a Bletia) papillose callus. The flower color is also remarkable as is the flower shape. The pale green petals and sepals are open. The lip base and callus are waxy red. The red extends as a flush and veining onto the outer epichile which bends downwards. The plant is leafy during the blooming season. The one or two broad leaves arise from ovoid corms which are sheathed by bracts. The leaf undersurface is purplish. This widely distributed species grows in oak-dominated habitat in Mexico and adjacent Central America. Flowering is in the July to September period.

Salmon pink-flowered Bletia urbana is one species which has limited distribution and is vulnerable. A reserve has been established in the area of Mexico City where only a few plants remain.

Bletia ensifolia flowers are about 2 inches long. The white ruffled lip is strongly veined rose purple. The callus is green. Petals and sepals are green with purple veins. Flowering is from July to September.

Bletia jucunda of Mexico and Guatemala produces one to four large 2.5 inch flowers during the months of October through December when the plant is without foliage. The ruffled rose lip has dark purple veins. The callus is cream and bears 5-7 parallel crests. Petals and sepals are pale rosy pink.

Bletia lilacina is a Mexican endemic which is leafless when it blooms from November through March. The smallish, three-quarters of an inch long rosy pink semi-open flowers have a ruffled white lip bearing 5 crests along the callus.

Bletia parkinsonii is another Mexican endemic that is leafless when blooming from November through March in oak forest. The narrow flowers open only when in full sun. The flowers have a showy ruffled rose pink lip with a bright yellow callus bearing 4 to 8 crests. The anther cap is also colored rosy pink. The corms are somewhat horizontal.

Bletia punctata produces smallish 1 inch semi-open flowers having a pointed white lip and yellow callus. Petals and sepals are dotted pink within. Sepals are greenish without. Flowering is in June-July.

Bletia rosea blooms in July-August when it produces a few large 2 inch rosy purple flowers. The outer edge of the lip is ruffled.

Mexican endemic, Bletia warfordiana, flowers during the August to December period when its leaves are absent. A single small, one inch long flower is produced. Sepals are open while the petals are hooded over the column. The rose purple lip has a cream callus with 3-5 parallel crests.

One of the largest Bletias is Bletia catenulata of savannahs in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru. The psedobulbs are about 2.5 inches long. Leaves can be as long as 3 feet and the inflorescence up to six feet tall. The purplish pink flowers are equally large but relatively few are produced during the South American spring season.

More images of different Bletia herbarium sheets can be found at http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/image/iix50.html

Those wishing to grow Bletia species should first learn about the particular needs of a species including its origin, habitat, and seasonal conditions. Water supplied when plants are not in active growth can lead to injurious rots. Bletia purpurea seems to have adapted well to garden culture in the tropics where plants are raised in garden beds and in large tubs. Water and fertilize plants when in active growth. Plants will flower in full sun and semi-shaded conditions and may be grown with other 'ground' orchids such as Spathoglottis plicata.