It was growing epiphytic on a tree trunk in the deep shade..
It kind of looks like a jewel orchid?

This beauty reminds me of a Jewel Orchid.

Yes, it does Lin, but my search has been fruitless..

Perhaps this link may be of use Myriam.

http://www.delfinadearaujo.com...

http://www.delfinadearaujo.com...

Interesting links you gave Jean! I've never came upon them before!
I'll have a closer look at them tomorrow with a fresh mind, it is late over here..

You are very welcome. It seems Delfina and her husband Sergio are experts on orchids of Brazil. They have published books and maintain the site I posted the link for. Thank you for the acorn...I do hope the site is helpful to you.

Aspydogyne fimbrillaris (syn: Physurus nobilis)

I think this one is a good candidate! According to the botanical drawings it looks to be variable..
No photos to be found on the web though..
https://orchid.unibas.ch/index...

A very useful site! It's a shame there's no proper photos.

Aspidogyne grouping of 46 small terrestrial species, distributed throughout the Brazilian territory, and from Guatemala to northern Argentina, from sea level up to 2000 meters of altitude, in dark places with moist soils, on the banks of the rivers, and in crevices of rocks

https://translate.google.co.uk...

Would this grow on a tree also I wonder?

I found some sites for Brazil and Argentina which might be of use for other plants if not this one..

http://www.ra-bugio.org.br/ver...

http://florademisiones.blogspo...

This orchid forum might help ..

http://forum.theorchidsource.c...

This site I found many moons ago, there's a special page for Brazil.

http://www.orchidspecies.com/i...

http://www.orchidspecies.com/b...

I searched for "orchidaceae Mata Atlantica" which brought up several interesting links.

http://orquideasdamatatlantica...

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...

Thanks for all the great links Janet!
I have to go thoroughly through them, I've copied them all in my Orchid folder on a document. A lot to read and to study there! Jean's link with the list of all species occurring in the Rio state is very useful indeed..

I find it a pity I found so little in bloom the times I was there which are January-February (the months I most like to escape from the cold, wet and dark Belgium) and the Atlantic Forest is considered being so rich in them.
Of course many are growing epiphytic, too high up in the tree canopy to get a glimpse of possible blooms..if only I could be a bird..
I have quite some photos of just orchid foliage though, but I guess it is a hopeless task to find ID's for them..

I do think that orchids that are normally terrestrial can also grow on tree trunks because of the humidity level and the plant debris that accumulates on the trunks?

In reading on various sites, some said "orchid X" is typically terrestrial but in rainforest conditions may be epiphytic. This seems to be the exception, not the norm. A few were listed as strictly terrestrial and some were strictly epiphytes. The literature was fairly specific about which ones could grow under either situation.

I did notice that Janet's link to The Orchid Source has an ATP member posting in that link. @Ursula may be able to help here as from what I have noted, she has a fair amount of experience with orchids.

This is a pic of Aspidogyne fimbrillaris ,a terrestrial

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...

It might not be an orchid.

And what might its' secret be?

Moonhowl said:And what might its' secret be?

The depths of the Brazilian rainforest harbour mysterious plants, many in families we are not familiar with.

We have found a plant in the nettle family, which looks nothing like a nettle. There are plants in some families which are very similar to plant in other families. It's a mystery.

I heard my name! Yes, I used to be one of the regular posters at the OSF, but nowadays most of their members post on Facebook, with the American Orchid Society Group.
If you are a member of this group, or if you like to become a member, posting it there might help, since there are true Orchid experts from all over the world looking at your posts.
I am not very good with different types of Jewel Orchids, my first impression was Goodyera, but I am sure you are all already way past that one...

Hi Ursula. Thanks for looking in. I must admit I had a twofold reason for the shout out.

Firstly to draw on your knowledge of orchids, and secondly to draw on your on-line time with knowledgeable orchid aficionados who might know something about Brazilian orchids.

The more I read, the less I think it is one of the Jewel Orchids, or at least one of the better known Jewels. Unless there is a possibility that this one is "accidentally" an Epiphyte. Every reference I have searched lists the Jewels as terrestrials.

thanks Jean, the photo of Aspidogyne fimbrillaris is clearly not like mine, but another I have found growing terrestrial in the same environment.

JRsbugs said:It might not be an orchid.

True without flowers one cannot know for sure..
Thanks Ursula for popping in!
I'm not inscribed with facebook..
I wouldn't be able to give any contribution though, my orchid knowledge is as good as nihil!

I think this one will have to join the ranks of my Brazilian noids!

At least one picture matched a plant In my first post at the bottom of the second link is an e-mail address for the site. Perhaps you could send them a copy of the picture and location and they may be able to help you ID it.

Btw, image googling this one, I see a couple of very similar photos/ leaves on Pinterest, unfortunately it won't let me look at it, since I don't have an account with them. But it sure looks like it!