Elleanthus myrosmatis

Native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, this terrestrial orchid occurs from lower mountain slopes into cooler upland habitats. A stout, flattened stem carries several pointed leaves. Its densely flowered terminal inflorescence resembles a cone and can reach about three and a half inches long. Overlapping reddish-purple bracts surround and support the small flowers. The species spans a broad range of elevations within the tropical Andes. Photographed in Colombia.