Maxillaria schunkeana 'Pérola Negra'
 

This is what I call a black orchid! This clone 'Pérola Negra' (Black Pearl) of Maxillaria schunkeana is one of the darkest I know. The flower is, by all means, a black flower, although we know that, actually, the true coloration is a dark, dark, dark wine. It is a Brazilian small plant native of the State of Espírito Santo.

Those blooms are an amazing hue. . .so close to black! I know lots of people are going to go nuts for this one!

Those little blooms sure are hiding down under the leaves. What polinates this one, if you know?

Gwen, yes the flowers are kept hidden under the leaves, but I wouldn't know to tell you what pollinates it. I can try to find some info on that. I'll let you know what I get.

Wow I love it! It is very cool looking!

what does it smell like? and at what time they open or are scented? this can give you a hint on the pollinators...

Mauro has the biggest collection of beautiful plants on the planet......but, to me, this is not one of them. It's interesting, but butt ugly in my opinion.

If you like this, you might be drinking some the water Dorothy talked about. Just my 2 cents.

:Tup: That's what's cool about orchids, Ggmm! There are orchids for all tastes, no matter what we like. Some of us like white, some don't, some like Phals some don't and so on. This true rainbow of opinions and tastes is what makes our passion a rich and enlarging hobby. All opinions are welcome and appreciate as well because they might show us a slightly different angle of the same thing, don't you think?

I'm not sure I'm crazy about it but it is definitely an interesting little guy! I really like the Maxillarias anyway so maybe I'm a little biased ;)

There are enough wonderful orchids in the world to make everybody happy happy :dance:

I think its weird and wonderful and has an allure all it's own -
Granted it's not attractive to everyone but it has it's own special beauty :)
Thank you for sharing it with us, Mauro :clap:

Mauro, it's both pretty and fascinating. The plant looks like it would be quite attractive even when it's not in flower.