Dendrobium Mountain Magic

Dendrobium Mountain Magic is a hybrid of the tiny Dendrobium cuthbertsonii (section Oxyglossum) and the much larger, cane-type Dendrobium pseudoglomeratum (section Pedilonum).  Both the parents are from Papua New Guinea.  The result is a very small plant, less than 15 cm tall with cane-like stems and clusters of pink flowers with an orange lip.  Since both parents have flowers about the same size in spite of the difference in plant size, the flowers are approximately 3 cm in size.  It is a profuse bloomer, reblooming from older canes.

Dracula lotax

 Dracula lotax is one of the smallest Dracula species.  Since "lotax" means "clown" this is the Clown Dracula, a rather humorous combination of names, but a reference to the fancied clown-face in the center of the flower.  Though this species is somewhat inaptly named, many of the larger Dracula species do resemble bats or the Vampire named after them.

The plant in this case is 15 cm tall and the flowers 5 cm including the tails.  The leaves are upright and grass-like and the flowers come from the base of the leaves, but do not grow down through the medium like some of the the other species, but stick out from the base of the plant at approximately a ninety degree angle.  I grow mine in a plastic net pot and live sphagnum.

Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba

I do not grow many Phalaenopsis: never have, with the exception of a couple species and one miniature hybrid.  This is one of the two species I am growing at present.  I purchased it as a seedling and it is blooming for the first time with two flower spikes.  I had hoped for slightly better flower form than this, but love the color and the scent.  It grows in moss and on a bathroom windowsill with a couple other Phalaenopsis and some Paphiopedilums.

Buccella dynastes

Bucella is another genus that has been recently separated from Masdevallia (2006), though the name certainly has not taken hold and many still refer to this plant as Masdevallia dynastes.  It is from Ecuador and is supposed to be somewhat temperature tolerant.  It is one of the smaller "Masdevallias," about 10 cm tall with upright flower spikes that are about as long as the leaves.  The flowers themselves are 1 cm in size.

Zygostates multiflora

Zygostates multiflora is a micro-miniature orchid species from Brazil that belongs to a group of related orchids known as the Ornithocephalinae, the Bird's-Head orchids.  The best known genus in this group is the genus Ornithocephalus, a genus of small fan shaped plants with numerous tiny white flowers.

This species is 4-5 cm tall with 10 cm flower spikes and tiny, .5 cm, white flowers with a green spot on the tip of the lip.  The flowers are very complex in shape and in spite of being so small put on a good show since the species flowers profusely when grown well.  My plant is grown on a small moss-covered mount.

Masdevallia mystica

Masdevallia mystica belongs to the Saltatrices group of Masdevallias, some of my favorite plants.  These are easily recognizable by their bright colors, tubular flowers and "bellies," a noticeable bulge at the base of the flower.  This "species" is from Ecuador, but is considered by most to be a natural hybrid, probably of Masdevallia filaria and Masdevallia ventricularia, two related species.  The plant is 10 cm tall and the flowers are surprisingly small, only a little over 2 cm  What the plant lacks in flower size, however, it makes up in floriferousness, and can be completely covered with flowers when well grown.