Sobralia is a genus of orchids native to Mexico, Central and South America. The plants are more commonly terrestrial, but are also found growing epiphytically, in wet forests from sea level to about 8,800 ft. The genus was named for Dr. Francisco Sobral, a Spanish botanist. The genus is abbreviated Sob in trade journals. Their reed-like stems range in height from about 1 ft (33 cm) (such as in Sobralia galeottiana) to 44 ft. (13.4 m) (in Sobralia altissima). They have typically heavily veined, bilobed, plicate, apical leaves all along the stem. The inflorescences on the apex of the stem carry one or two successive ephemeral flowers with large sepals and petals. The short duration of the flower is caused by a self-digesting enzyme. The lip is entire or lobed and clasps the column at its base. This columns carries eight soft pollinia. These flowers range in color from pure white to yellow, green, pink, purple, red, brown, and even a blue violet. Taxonomy The following species are recognized: Sobralia aerata (C.K.Allen & L.O.Williams) Garay Sobralia allenii L.O.Williams Sobralia altissima D.E.Benn. & Christenson Sobralia amabilis (Rchb.f.) L.O.Williams Sobralia anceps Schltr. Sobralia andreae Dressler Sobralia antioquiensis Schltr. Sobralia aspera Dressler & Pupulin Sobralia atropubescens Ames & C.Schweinf. Sobralia augusta Hoehne. Sobralia aurantiaca Linden & Rchb.f. Sobralia biflora Ruiz & Pav. Sobralia bimaculata Garay Sobralia blancoi Dressler & Pupulin Sobralia bletiae Rchb.f. Sobralia boliviensis Schltr. Sobralia buchtienii Schltr. Sobralia calliantha D.E.Benn. & Christenson Sobralia callosa L.O.Williams Sobralia caloglossa Schltr. Sobralia candida (Poepp. & Endl.) Rchb.f. Sobralia carazoi Lank. & Ames Sobralia cardosoi Campacci & J.B.F.Silva Sobralia cataractarum Hoehne Sobralia cattleya Rchb.f. Sobralia chatoensis A.H.Heller & A.D.Hawkes Sobralia chrysantha Lindl. Sobralia chrysoleuca Rchb.f. Sobralia chrysostoma Dressler Sobralia ciliata (C.Presl) C.Schweinf. ex Foldats Sobralia citrea Dressler Sobralia crispissima Dressler Sobralia crocea (Poepp. & Endl.) Rchb.f. Sobralia decora Bateman Sobralia densifoliata Schltr. Sobralia dichotoma Ruiz & Pav. Sobralia dissimilis Dressler Sobralia dorbignyana Rchb.f. Sobralia doremiliae Dressler Sobralia ecuadorana Dodson Sobralia exigua Dressler Sobralia exilis Schltr. Sobralia fimbriata Poepp. & Endl. Sobralia fragilis Dressler & Bogarín Sobralia fragrans Lindl. Sobralia fruticetorum Schltr. Sobralia fuzukiae Dressler & Bogarín Sobralia galeottiana A.Rich. Sobralia gentryi Dodson Sobralia gloriana Dressler Sobralia gloriosa Rchb.f. Sobralia granitica G.A.Romero & Carnevali Sobralia hagsateri Dodson Sobralia hawkesii A.H.Heller Sobralia helleri A.D.Hawkes Sobralia herzogii Schltr. Sobralia hirta D.E.Benn. & Christenson Sobralia hirtzii Dodson Sobralia hoppii Schltr. Sobralia imavieirae Campacci & J.B.F.Silva Sobralia infundibuligera Garay &