Two Beauties

Pleurothallis (syn. Acronia) cyanea

Two of our loveliest Pleurothallids have been flowering simultaneously on the same tree in the Tropical High Elevation House. They make quite a show together.

Pleurothallis (Acronia) calceolaris

Pleurothallis (Acronia) cyanea and P. calceolaris are allied species. Notice how similar the flowers are, apart from their color. Both have a deeply concave synsepal (in the 6 o'clock position), like a broad oval bowl. The lateral petals of the two species are similar in shape, narrowly triangular.

Now compare the dorsal sepals (in the 12 o'clock position) of the two species. The blood red flowers of P. calceolaris have a dorsal sepal that is tall and appears narrow because the margins are reflexed backwards. I like the pebbly (verrucose) texture.

P. cyanea has a dorsal sepal broadly oval in shape and wrinkled in texture. It has a lovely shimmering quality in the sunshine.

P. cyanea and P. calceolaris are both native to Colombia. We grow our plants as epiphytes on trees in the Tropical High Elevation House. We choose a shady location on the moist interior branches of a tree. When we attach an epiphytic orchid to a branch, we use a minimum amount of moss over the roots in order to encourage them to establish directly on the branch rather than in the moss. The downside of using less moss is that the plants need more frequent watering. But that's a small price to pay for increased longevity.

Openings: Pleurothallis cyanea

There are some real stunners for you to see in the Fuqua Orchid Center right now. And they aren't even part of the Orchid Daze display. Like this plant, my own personal heartthrob, Pleurothallis cyanea. It is part of our permanent collection.

What is it about this plant? Maybe it's the subtle blue-grey (cyanea means blue) tint of the leaves. Or their elongated heart shape. Or the geometry of those arching veins. It achieves perfection, even when it's not in flower.

Oh yeah, the flowers. They seem to emerge, unexpectedly, near the top of the leaf. (Actually, they emerge where the stem meets the leaf, at the angle formed by the two rounded basal lobes.) The lower half (actually, two sepals, fused) of the 'clamshell' is concave, and rosy pink. They are elegant in their simplicity.

Pleurothallis cyanea is native to Colombia, where it grows as an epiphyte in wet tropical forests. Our plants are mounted on trees in the Tropical High Elevation House, placed where they receive lots of shade.

For some reason, just about all of our large-flowered Clamshell Orchids (Pleurothallis subg. Pleurothallis section macrophyllae-fasciculatae): Pleurothallis cyanea, P. marthae, P. gargantua, P. teaguei and P. titan are all flowering simultaneously. Now is a great time to see this terrific group.

Openings: Week of April 30

Cyrtochilum serratum in the Tropical High Elevation House

Whenever one of our ravishing cyrtochilums flowers I want to call the newspaper. They are just so exceptional in every way--exceptionally beautiful, exceptionally rare in cultivation, and unfortunately, exceptionally difficult to grow outside of the cloud forest. I feel flattered when one of ours flowers.

All of the Cyrtochilum species are native to the misty upland forests of the Andes where their extraordinarily long rhizomes scramble up trees and shrubs. But it's the flower spike, or inflorescence, that will make you stop for a second look. It's a graceful twining strand that winds its way up, around and among surrounding trees like rainforest tinsel, with as many as 100 flowers per strand.  Cyrtochilum serratum is  native to Ecuador and Colombia. If you guessed that Cyrtochilum is closely related to Oncidium, the Dancing Lady Orchid, you are correct.

Medinilla magnifica

Magnifica indeed. Without a doubt, the most commented upon plant in the Orchid Center right now is Medinilla magnifica, one of the all time great plants for conservatories. Not an orchid. It is a large shrub in the mostly tropical and frequently ornamental Melastomataceae. I have noticed M. magnifica for sale in Atlanta garden centers this month. It is not hardy in Atlanta. Melastomes, even large ones like Medinilla magnifica, are easily rooted by cuttings.
We have quite a nice collection of melastomes at ABG, and if you like M. magnifica you will love our recently installed Medinilla miniata, similar in size and aspect, but with fiery red flowers. Melastomes come in all sizes, but they are easy to recognize. The leaves are opposite with veins that lie parallel to one another. The flowers have a peculiar feature: the stamens are elbow-shaped.

Pleurothallis cyanea on a tree in the High Elevation House

If you visit the Tropical High Elevation House this week you will see a burst of flowers on some of my favorite clamshell orchids, Pleurothallis cyanea, P. gigantea and P. teaguei,  P. marthae and ever-blooming P. titan. I love the thick coriaceous leaves on Pleurothallis cyanea.

Cavendishia grandifolia

Cavendishia grandifolia is one of the most impressive plants in the Tropical High Elevation House and certainly our largest shrub. It's astonishing to realize that this plant, with its fifteen foot pendant branches is an epiphyte. It's a mighty plant that can support one of these sprawling monsters. Each of the thick platter-like leaves is ten to twelve inches long. You can get a closer look at those gorgeous tubular flowers here. We have two grandifolias: the one pictured above cascades over the waterfall; the other is draped over the arch of the tepui.

Lots of orchids in flower this week! Please stop by for a visit.