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Antennae-carrying restrepia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Genus:	Restrepia
Species:	R. antennifera
Binomial name
	Restrepia antennifera; Kunth
Synonyms
	Pleurothallis ospinae R.E.Schult.; Restrepia hemsleyana Schltr.; Restrepia antennifera ssp. hemsleyana (Schltr.) H.Mohr; Restrepia antennifera ssp. klabochorum H.Mohr;

Restrepia antennifera, the antennae-carrying restrepia, is an epiphytic, miniature species of orchid found at higher altitudes in cool, moist montane forests in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.^[1]^[2]

These tiny orchids lack pseudobulbs. The erect, thick, leathery leaf is elliptic-ovate in shape. The aerial roots seem like fine hairs.

The attractive flowers are 5–6 cm long. They develop one at a time at the base of the leaf. They are borne on a slender peduncle, originating from the base of the back of the leaf. The long dorsal sepal is erect, triangular at the base and ends in a somewhat thicker club-shaped tip (= clavate). They have fused lateral sepals (synsepals) which may be quite colorful: yellow, orange or tan with contrasting maroon lengthwise stripes.^[3] The long, slender, lateral petals equally end in a thickened club-shaped tip.^[2] The long lip is ovoid and widest at its apex. It shows a reddish lengthwise stripe. In rare cases, the synsepals may split, resulting in two separate sepals. The column has four pollinia.

Restrepia antennifera is well-known to orchid growers, although many other Restrepias are misidentified as "antennifera". The flower blooms for 1 to 2 weeks.^[1] They flower again and again in sequential order from the same growth.

References

^ ^a ^b Puccio, Pietro (2008-08-07). "Restrepia antennifera". Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. Translated by Mario Beltramini. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
^ ^a ^b "Restrepia antennifera". Conservatory Of Flowers. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
^ "PlantFiles: Species Orchid, Antennae Carrying Restrepia". Dave's Garden. Retrieved 2023-07-13.