Zygopetalum I picked up last week
Photographer: @[email protected]
I was in Los Angeles last week and picked up this Zygo at a local Trader Joe’s. I believe it’s a Debbie Demello “Honolulu Baby”. Beautiful orchid and for the price of $18, carrying it on the plane, and many eye rolls from the wife I think it was absolutely worth the price of admission
The gigantic plant is an orchid, Grammatophyllum
At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 2024
Most orchids live in a symbiotic relationship with fungi in their roots: The plants provide sugar they produce through photosynthesis and in return receive water and minerals from the fungi. However, some orchids have stopped producing their own food and completely feed on fungi.
Dendrobium cunninghamii orchid flowering near Christmas
Dendrobium cunninghamii, in Puketi Forest, New Zealand. In full bloom :). Its indigenous Maori name is Winika and a Maori canoe (Waka) is named after it
"In the fork of the tree grew a type of orchid known as ‘te winika’ which blooms with masses of white and green star-shaped flowers, evoking the huia feathers worn by high ranking rangatira (chiefs). This led to the auspicious name being given to the waka taua, that served Maaori royalty for many purposes, from transport to ceremonial duties."
-50 years of majestic waka at Waikato Museum Source
Image by me
Edit: grammer and written better
I just registered my first orchid hybrid, Paphiopedilum Belgian Sunshine
Introducing Paphiopedilum Belgian Sunshine
I pollinated a Paphiopedilum Maudiae in January 2021 with pollen from Paphiopedilum Ma Folie. In August, I cut off a fruit. In September, I sent the fruit to The Orchids Lab for seeding, received it back in August 2022, and potted it. In October 2024, I discovered three flower buds. and in November 2024 they opened, allowing me to register it as a new hybrid, and gave it the name Paphiopedilum Belgian Sunshine.
I named it after the rare meteorological condition that allowed the specimens to flower in such a short time.
More information about the new hybrid: Royal Horticultural Society – OrchidRoots – Orchidex
Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket 'Super Bug' HCC/AOS
OC = Own Collection
Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket = Brassavola nodosa × Rhyncholaelia digbyana
Unfortunately, it does not smell, even though Brassavola nodosa smells really nice, and Rhynchovolas are also supposed to have a smell.
With bonus Jiminy Cricket pin.
Psychopsis
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. Psychopsis is in subtribe Oncidiinae
Maxillaria variabilis flowering
Maxillaria is in the subtribe Maxillariinae, which also includes Lycaste.
Fruits of Chysis laevis (Swiss 2 francs coin for scale)
Chysis laevis is in the subtribe Chysinae (it was previously placed in Bletiinae).
The flowers were open only a few days and I suspect they pollinated themselves, because I don't have anything closely related.
There are four fruits in total, and they are quite large.
OC = Own collection
The western prairie fringed orchid is a rare flowering plant that has declined due to loss of its native prairie habitat.
Unknown Rhyncholaelia/Cattleya hybrid
Cloud forest Singapore.
Chysis laevis
Chysis laevis Lindl.
OC = Own Collection
This orchid opened three flowers, which were open only a few days. I suspect that they self-pollinated somehow, but I'm not sure. (They now have "thick" fruit-like parts.) I couldn't detect any smell.
Chysis is in subtribe Bletiinae according to Wikipedia, and in subtribe Chysinae according to Genera Orchidacearum Vol. 4. I couldn't find how the RHS classifies it. In any case, the genus is in tribe Epidendreae, which also includes subtribe Laeliinae.
Myrmecocattleya Luster 'Gazelle'
OC = Own Collection
I bought this in January 2023.
Myrmecocattleya Luster = Cattleya forbesii × Myrmecophila thomsoniana
Both species are in the subtribe Laeliinae.
I believe I smelled a very faint perfume, but I'm not 100% sure.
