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I found this orchid in the Maricao forest. I have walked many times by the place where this clump of plants is growing and never noticed them. They are practically invisible without their inflorescences. This plant is rarely photographed. I always thought that Basiphyllea flowers remained almost completely closed, but it seems there is a population in Maricao where flowers open wide. Unfortunately when I found this clump, a few buds remained and only a single, damaged flower was opened wide.
It is very rare that I can't identify a local species of orchid let alone decide to what genera a plant belongs. My best guess is that this is a freshly opened flower of Basiphyllea corallicola. However since all I have are line drawings and descriptions and my own limited knowledge of this genera, the ID has to be tentative. The plant is growing in the Maricao forest. It was the only open flower of this plant that was not severely damaged or already collapsed. I know the flowers of Basiphyllea barely open, so this may be something else. Then however I have no idea what it is.
