Eria ornata (Bl.) Lindl. 1830 is a rare, epiphytic growing orchid species, native to the Himalayas, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Primarily this unusal orchid with its vanilla-scented small flowers, has been described by the German-Dutch botanist Karl Ludwig Blume in 1825
as Dendrolirium ornatum Bl. 1825. The about 2 cm sized flowers are blooming on an inflorescence with bright orange-red flower bracts. The inflorescences can reach a length up to about 40 cm.
Flowering period: August - October. Eria ornata orchids are protected by CITES Appendix II (trade controlled to avoid use incompatible with species survival).

© Orchids Flowers.com
Image: Eria ornata (Bl.) Lindl. 1830, flower macro
Photographer: Kitisak “Nat” Jaidee

While we stumbled upon this orchid beauty the first time, about a month ago, photographer Nat took the picture below. It was the first time we saw that orchid and we thought, the flower bract is the bloom. The Eria ornata was fooling us and while we researched facts about this orchid in the internet, we found the outstanding flowers. The next day we went back to the Phrao Orchid Shop, but unfortunatly the plant was sold already. From that day on we´ve been really hunting for an Eria ornata in bloom. We found the orchid just a few days ago at the orchid show in Chiang Mai in honour to H.M. Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

© Orchids Flowers.com
Image: Eria ornata (Bl.) Lindl. 1830, flower bracts macro
Photographer: Kitisak “Nat” Jaidee

Eria species orchids at Orchids Flowers.com: