What is "sobralia"

n. any of various showy orchids of the genus Sobralia having leafy stems and bright-colored solitary or racemose flowers similar to those of genus Cattleya

Sobralia is a genus of about 125 orchids ( family Orchidaceae) and one of the two genera of the subtribe Sobraliinae (the other is Elleanthus).

It is 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 25–30 ft. (10 m) 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.

Sobrália is a municipality in Brazil in the state of Minas Gerais. Its population in 2004 was estimated to be 6,000 inhabitants. The name Sobrália came from a local Native American tribe referring to the flowers called sobralia.

This city is where MMA fighter Glover Teixeira was born.