Zygopetalum maculatum, an orchid native to South America, particularly Brazil, is known for its striking patterned flowers and sweet fragrance. This orchid typically grows in humid forests at elevations between 2,600 and 4,600 feet, often as a terrestrial plant in leaf litter or occasionally as an epiphyte on trees. The flowers are notable for their dramatic contrast: sepals and petals are green with maroon to brown blotches, while the lip is white to pale violet marked with intricate purple veining. Each inflorescence carries multiple long-lasting flowers, making it popular in horticulture and cut-flower arrangements. The fragrance of Zygopetalum maculatum is another defining feature, often described as sweet and intense, and it has contributed to the species being widely used in hybridization to produce showy, perfumed orchids. Photographed in Ecuador.