Sophronitella violacea

Selected Species - by Peter Taylor

Sophronitella violacea

THIS charming and easily grown miniature species orchid should, in my undoubtedly biased eyes, be in every self-respecting species collection. Plants of this species are space effective and do not require winter heat (at least on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.) They are of eye-catching beauty and on a large plant make a show-stopping display; sadly not often seen, as the species is rather slow-growing. Flowever; the species is not often seen in collections and is rarely benched at orchid meetings or shows.

Sophronitella violacea was discovered by George Gardiner in the Organ Mountains near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and first described as Sophronitis violacea by John Lindley in 1840. In the Botanical Register of 1841 it was referred to as a “pretty little epiphyte with violet flowers.” It appears that as Rentoul says (1989) “While known as a Sophronitis, it lacked attention, possibly because of its apparently, closely related Sophronitis coccinea, a larger flower of glistening red colour.”

Rudolph Schlechter transferred the species in 1925 to a new genus, Sophronitella. Sophronitella is a monotypic genus and the name is the diminutive of ‘Sophronitis’ which itself is derived from the Greek ‘sophronia’ meaning modest.

There are numerous distinguishing features which separate Sophronitella from Sophronitis, including column and flower structure, colour and pseudobuib shape. I do not believe that Sophronitis really deserves the ‘modest’ appellation, nor Sophronitella the diminutive of ‘modest’ - both genera have spectacular, miniature flowers.

The beautiful crystalline violet-pink flowers appear in mid-winter and last for about two to three weeks. The plant does not seem to have an extended rest period of dormancy, soon after the flowers have faded, new growths appear on the slow growing pseudobulbs which take approximately ten months to mature and flower.

Exceptionally rare white (alba) clones have occasionally been described but I have not seen one and my correspondence to obtain one has been to no avai.

Sophronitella violacea grows in heavily shaded humid forest in the mountains of eastern Brazil. Plants in cultivation require moderate shade (mine grows under two layers of 50% shade cloth, plus a ‘plastic overcoat’ on the shadehouse in winter.) High humidity is essential. The best plants I have seen grown were always mounted and hence require frequent summer watering and occasional light misting in winter. Once new growth is noticed, fertilising (which should be stopped during winter) can start. However; it is wise to note Rentoul’s comment (1989) that “too much fertiliser, too soon and too strong halts root development.”

Withner (1993) mentions that Sophronitella violacea ‘Fox Den’ received a Cultural Award from the American Orchid Society with twenty seven flowers and five buds on fifteen inflorescences. Obviously it was a clone that flowers with more than one flower per pseudobulb. Withner continues with the valuable comment pertinent to all species growers that “This species is adapted for survival in its habitat, not for maximum flower production.” He concludes his note on Sophronitella violacea with “This species, in a rocky habitat called Vila Velha in Paraná (Brazil), has formed a natural hybrid with Isabella virginalis which grows there on the sandstone.” The hybrid is Isanitella pabstii.

So, if you are looking for a wonderful splash of violet-pink colour in your collection during the short days of winter you should search out a plant of Sophronitella violacea - far from it being a ‘modest’ orchid it is a small species of regal nature.

Peter Taylor, Port Macquarie, NSW

Originally published in "Orchids Australia" October 2008.