Pleione?

[Manchua]

Can someone tell me what this is? I'm not even sure it's an orchid, though I think it is. I'm assuming it's a Pleione. I photographed it in 2002 and it was growing in the ground in a public park.

[Misty]

Hi,
I was going to say that looks like a Bletilla (Chinese Ground Orchid) to me, but when I opened one of my books to check, right above it is another orchid that looks very similar called a Bletia which is endemic to the American Tropics. Both have pink flowers, although I also have the alba Bletilla. Someone familiar with both is probably needed to tell which it is as foliage is not really shown, however the white in the lip looks more like Bletilla to me. These grow outside easily in our climate in NZ and lose their leaves for the winter. Flowering is in spring following the leaves appearing. Mine will be in flower shortly as the leaves have started growing.
Cheers,
Misty

[bench72]

Looks like Bletilla striata.

Lovely pic as well.

Cheers
tim

[Sue]

Yup. Bletilla striata. You should be able to grow them as garden plants in your area with little special treatment. A very nice plant.

Oh, and it is closely related to Pleione, as well as Bletia. More distantly related to Phaius and Calanthe.