Dendrobium cuthbertsonii

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii hardly needs an introduction.  Though a micro-miniature, it is well known for its large and very long-lasting flowers, beautiful pebbled leaves and bright colors.  It also has a reputation for being difficult to grow, but given the right conditions that is not true.  It likes cool temperatures and high humidity but is more forgiving on both counts when grown under very high light.  It is from the highlands of New Guinea and has been extensively hybridized with itself to create large flowers, more temperature tolerant plants and new colors and color combinations.  This is a fairly standard example of the species with typical red-orange flowers that are normally sized as well.  The plant has larger growths than some of 3-4cm, and the flowers are 4-5 cm in length.

Promenaea stapelioides

This is a miniature species from Brazil belonging to a very small genus  of 15-20 species.  Its specific name reflects the similarity of the flowers to those of a Stapelia, a South African succulent.  The plant is 8 cm tall and has small pseudobulbs and soft leaves.  It prefers cool temperatures and high humidity but when these requirements are met it is not a difficult plant to grow or flower.  The flowers are 3.5 cm and their green and purple colors make them a real showstopper.

Dendrobium christyanum

Dendrobium christyanum is from Thailand, Vietnam and China and has huge flowers for the size of the plant.  My plant is about 5 cm tall and the flowers are about the same size.  It belongs to the group of Dendrobiums known as nigrohirsute Dendrobiums, referring to the black hairs with which the plant is covered and it is sometimes found under the older name, Dendrobium margaritaceum  It blooms in the summer and is temperature tolerant.  The flowers are fragrant.

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii

This is another clone of Dendrobium cuthbertsonii which comes in a rainbow of colors.  This clone is not only a very vivid pink but has very large flowers for the species.  The plant is only a couple of centimeters tall and the 3 cm flowers dwarf the plant.  It is cool growing and comes from the highlands of New Guinea.

Pleurothallis pterophora

This attractive species not only has an abundance of fragrant, white flowers, but has beautiful spotted foliage as well, and it blooms repeatedly from the same growths. The plant is 15 cm tall and the individual flowers are less than 1 cm, blooming in the spring. It is from Brazil and belongs to the Specklinia section of the genus, Pleurothallis.

Promenaea xanthina

Promenaea xanthina is small species from Brazil that belong to a small genus of similar-looking plants. This plant is only 6-8 cm tall with small flattened pseudobulbs and soft, pale green foliage. The plant prefers cool temepratures, good humidity, a lot of moisture and lower light and when happy produces an abundance of flowers in the late spring and early summer. The flowers are 4-5 cm in size and make a good display.

Masdevallia filaria

This Masdevallia is from the section Saltatrices, a group of Masdevallias with tubular flowers and a "belly" at the base of the flowers.  With their unusual coloration and shape these flowers have been compared to seahorses.  Whatever they look like the they bloom nearly year-around for me with a flush of new flowers late in the spring.  The plant is 10 cm and the flowers 5 cm.  The species is from Colombia.