Monday, July 27, 2015

Dendrobium Gina Perlite 'Crystal White'

Dendrobium Gina Perlite is a hybrid of Dendrobium cuthbertsonii and Dendrobium prasinum.  It has, more or less, the growth habit of Dendrobium cuthbertsonii, though the leaves do not have the pebbled surface of that species and the growths are generally a little fatter and larger.  Its flowers certainly look like the flowers of Dendrobium cuthbersonii.  The pale yellow flowers are 4 cm long and 3 cm across the face of the flower, but the clonal name is misleading since the flowers are very definitely not crystal white.



Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Promenaea stapelioides

Promenaea stapelioides is a miniature, cool-temperature species from Brazil.  In fact, all the species in this genus are from Brazil.  The species name refers to a genus of succulents whose flowers these are supposed to resemble.  The plant is 8 cm tall with 4 cm flowers that are semi-pendant.  My plant is grown in live sphagnum moss in a plastic net pot.





Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Dendrobium oreodoxa x cuthbertsonii

I purchased this hybrid several years ago and as far as I know it is still unnamed.  It is a hybrid of the micro-miniature Dendrobium cuthbertsonii from section Oxyglossum and the much larger cane-type Dendrobium oreodoxa from section Calyptrochilus, both species from New Guinea.  The hybrid seems little influenced by the Dendrobium oreodoxa parent.  Both plant and flowers look like the other parent.  The individual growths are less than 3 cm and the flowers are nearly 4 cm long.



Saturday, July 11, 2015

Paphiopedilum China Dragon

Paphiopedilum China Dragon is a hybrid of Paphiopedilum Nisqually and Paphiopedilum China Song, and has four species in its background, Paphiopedilums acmodontum, appletonianum, bullenianum, and a double dose of sukhakulii.  It has variegated foliage and blooms faithfully for me every spring.  It is quite a small plant as Paphiopedilums go and the flowers are not large either, but I've kept, charmed by its lovely colors and shape.





Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Homalopetalum pumilio

Homalopetalum pumilio is amicro-minature plant, the tiny pseudobulbs and leaves (in this case) 2 cm tall with a flower that 3-4 cm in size.  It is related to Cattleya and is found from Mexico through Central America into northern South America, Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru.  It's flowers are a translucent whitish-green or in another former, a pale yellowish-green.  This particular plant is the cooler-growing Mexican form.




Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Bulbophyllum odontopetalum

Bulbophyllum odontopetalum is a micro-miniature species from New Guinea.  Its flowers, which look like a tiny Dracula flower, are only 2 cm and are produced on 3 cm growths, a tiny pseudobulb and single leaf.  The flowers spikes are wiry and 4 cm.  Mine is mounted on cork and seems to prefer cool temperatures and higher light.