Huntleyas and Related Orchids

Revered by avid orchid collectors for its delightful, star-shaped flowers, Huntleya is a small group of orchids found low in the forest. Besides their striking colors—from deep blue to waxy red, royal purple to almost black—flowers of this group are known for their distinctive shapes, patterns, and textures. As appealing as these lovely tropical orchids are, their identification has been confused since the first species was described in the mid-1800s. Recent DNA studies have led to a c…