Micropera utriculosa

Description

Micropera utriculosa is a species of orchid in the genus Micropera first described by Oakes Ames in 1915 under the name Camarotis utriculosa. It is endemic to the Philippines. Micropera, commonly known as dismal orchids is a genus of about twenty species of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are large epiphytes with thick roots, long, fibrous stems, linear leaves and whitish or yellow, non-resupinate flowers. The sepals and petals are similar to each other and the labellum is shoe-shaped or sac-like and has three lobes. It is found from Tibet to tropical Asia and the western Pacific Ocean. Orchids in the genus Micropera are epiphytic, monopodial herbs with fibrous stems up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) long supported at intervals by coarse, thick roots. Widely spaced, leathery, linear leaves up to 170 millimetres (6.7 in) long and 20 millimetres (0.79 in) wide are arranged along the stems. Short flowering stems emerge oppose the leaves bearing non-resupinate, whitish, pink or yellowish flowers. The sepals and petals are narrow, fleshy and similar to and free from each other. The labellum is shoe-shaped or sac-like with a prominent spur near its base and has three lobes. The side lobes are broad and erect.