Selected Species from NMQOC Species Appreciation Group 16 July 2016

Photographs courtesy of Jon Cara Orchid commentary courtesy of Chris Dennis (from Jay Pfahl’s Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia) and Bob Meagher

Catasetum expansum  There are a large number of species Catasetums ranging from Mexico, central America, West Indies and south as far as Argentina.  Catasetum expansum is endemic to north east Ecuador and flowers can vary from white through green, yellow toa pale pink.  Flowering is usually late autumn into winter.  Plants produce either male or female flowers and the male flower has an unusual pollination ejection method. The male flower is more showy.  During winter they lose their leaves and you then water sparingly. New shoots appear in spring and then they mature a bit, you give plenty of water and fertiliser.  Most plants will produce male flowers under moderate shade and female flowers under more intense sunlight.  Flowers last barely a week.

Dendrobium affine The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families currently considers Dendrobium affine to be a native of Asia-Tropical Malesia Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Papuasia New Guinea and Dendrobium dicuphum to be a native of Australasia Australia Northern Territory, Western Australia

Dendrobium clavator

Dockrillia rigida Currently considered by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families to be a homotypic synonym of Dendrobium rigidum

Rhynchostylis gigantea

Oncidium maculatum

Dendrochilum propinquum

Coelogyne viscosa

Dendrobium speciosum

Vanda bensonii

Vanda lamellata ‘Debutante’  Native of the Philippines, Borneo, Taiwan and Marianas Islands  Growing in hot dry lowland areas near the sea  On cliff faces or coast beach forests from sea level to 30 m  Can adapt to extremes and has been found growing in full sun  Flowering season in winter but it can flower other times of the year  The flowers are long lasting

Cycnoches warscewiczii

Mormolyca hedwigiae

Ascocentrum pusillum Currently considered by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families to be a homotypic synonym of Vanda nana

Pomatocalpa angustifolium

Acronia matudana Currently considered by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families to be a homotypic synonym of Pleurothallis matudana

Schomburgkia crispa Currently considered by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families to be a homotypic synonym of Laelia marginata

Dracontia tuerckheimii Currently considered by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families to be a homotypic synonym of Stelis megachlamys

Epidendrum chlorops

Rhynchostylis gigantea

Coelogyne mayeriana  Common Name Mayer's Coelogyne [German Botanical Garden Director, Stutgart 1800's]  Flower Size - 2.8" [7 cm]  Similar to C. pandurata yet with smaller flowers and a different, non-pandurate, deeply ruffled lip with hard, white warts, this species occurs in Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo as a medium to large sized, hot growing epiphyte on tree trunks or occasional terrestrial in humus at elevations of sea level to 100 meters often near mangroves with 3.2 to 9.6" [8 to 24 cm] between each pyriform, circular in cross-section pseudobulb enveloped basally by a few imbricate sheaths and carrying 2, apical, plicate, 7 nerved, acute, gradually narrowing below into the grooved petiolate base leaves that blooms in the summer and fall on an arching to pendant, 1½' [45 cm] long, proteranthous inflorescence with many lemon scented, simultaneously opening flowers.

Staurochilus dawsonianus  Part shade hot warm spring summer  Common Name - Dawson's Staurochilus [Dawson Turner English Botanist 1800's] - Ueang tuk kae - Suea phaew - In China Zhang Chun Lan  Flower Size – 1.4" (3.5 cm]  Found in South Yunnan Province China, Laos, Thailand, and Burma in mixed evergreen forests on trees at elevations of 200-800 meters as a medium sized, hot to warm growing, monopodial epiphyte with a stout, elongate stem carrying a few leathery, strap-shaped leaves that blooms in the spring and early summer on several, 3 branched, axillary, lateral to ascending, to 18" [45 cm] long, stiff, few to 20 flowered inflorescence with broadly ovate floral bracts.