H. metlesicsianum was first described from Tenerife in 1982 and named after Herr H Metlesics who is
a contemporary Austrian botanist.
This species is entirely confined to the Atlantic island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. These islands,
although not rich in orchid varieties have fostered the isolated development of plants which although
originally with a wider distribution, have subsequently been recognized as species in their own right. Their are two orchids in particular which have evolved in this way - firstly the Canary Islands Orchid,
O. canariensis which can be found on several of the islands and secondly the Tenerife Giant orchid,
H. metlesicsianum which exists on Tenerife only.
Tenerife is a volcanic island and a harsh environment for even the toughest of plants and yet this species
chooses to grow on the lower flanks of the volcano amongst the lava channels and rubble. It is at its most
common in the vicinity of Santiago del Teide and chooses sites where the lava has eroded to a point where a thin layer of mildly acidic soil has formed in sufficient quantity to support vegetation. It is a
point of note that H. metlesicsianum seems invariably to grow in gulley's at a lower level than the
surrounding igneous rock. This presumably not only provides a habitat where more soil has accumulated
but also one that offers some protection from harsh weather conditions.
H. metlesicsianum is a very rare plant living in a curious environment and as such is impossible to confuse with any other orchid. It bears a strong resemblance to H. robertianum and indeed shares a similar chromosome count.
