Other species of orchid

Last update: 17 August, 2002

Aspasia
Epiphytic, up to 50cm tall. The pseudobulbs are oblong and elliptical and flattened. They appear to have a short stalk and are spread along a rhizome. The pseudobulbs are crowned with two leaves. These orchids produce a few flowers at a time, and these are relatively large in comparison with the size of the plant. The flowers are produced near the base of the plant.  The flower on the right is Aspasia principissa.

Maxillaria
These are either epiphytic or terrestrial and may or may not possess pseudobulbs. When they are present they are generally clustered in a loose group and the flowers emerge from among the cluster of leaves. The plant to the right is M. lehmani.  The flowers are of a strange form, with very short stems, and are usually produced several at a time. The flowering period is short and the flowers do not last long. Some of these plants are quite large, although there are many species that are small enough to be of interest to us.

Oncidium
These are small to large plants, and are usually epiphytes. They may or may not possess pseudobulbs. The leaves may vary from thin to quite fleshy, and the flowers are usually some shade of yellow with brown markings. The various species are very diverse, and it is difficult to generalise on their overall appearance. No doubt in future years this large genus will be broken up into several smaller genera.

Scaphosepalum

This is a modest little plant growing some 7 centimeters high.  The flowers are produced constantly, but curiously do not actually appear on the plant itself.  Instead, they are produced by underground runners and pop up several centimeters away from the parent.  The same scape will go on producing flowers over a long period of time.

This epiphyte produces an abundance of flowers which appear, truss after truss on the same stem.  It is a small plant producing its leaves completely enclosing the small pseudobulb.  The petals and sepals are folded strongly back while the stigma is held out at an angle away from the main flower body.

Sigmatostalix unguiculata

This is a very nice little plant, growing as it does from a cluster of pseudobulbs.  The flowers are borne in profusion; just as one flush dies down, the next is already appearing to take their place.  In this species, the lip of the flower is shaped like a miniature pair of cow horns.  There is a form of this, or a new species, where the lip is white.

Ticoglossum krameri
This charming little orchid is well worth growing.  The flowers are substantial for the size of the plant and are long lasting.  The pseudobulbs cluster together and in this species the edges are very sharp.  The flowers can be either white or pink.

The second species of Costa Rican Ticoglossum is T. oerstedii, similar in form but with smoothly rounded pseudobulbs and a flower which is very large for the size of plant.  'Tico' is colloquial Spanish for a Costa Rican - the person.

Platystele
The orchid on the right is P. ovatilabia.  These are minute plants, and the flowers are unbelievably tiny.   Yet with the help of a hand lens you will see that they are perfectly formed, miniature orchids with all the features you would expect to find in such a flower.  The flowers are shown with a sewing needle and cotton thread for comparison.
The plants themselves form clumps of leaves, and the inflorescence extends above the leaves. The flowers may be produced one or two at a time, or several may open along the stem.
Because of their minute size, these plants are difficult to identify.

Psygmorchis
These are very pretty, quaint little orchids, which present themselves in the form of a fan. The flowers are produced on stems slightly longer than the leaves. Flowers are produced in succession, so each stem will flower over a long period. There may be several flowers showing on the same plant at any one time. They are epiphytes in growth habit and do not possess pseudobulbs. Their flowers are very similar to Oncidium.

Picture right: Psygmorchis glossomystax
Picture left: Psygmorchis sp.