Southern California Orchid Species Society

May

Species	Click on thumbnail to see larger photo. Use browser <Back> button to return	Notes	Contact for More Information (roberta@orchidcentral.net unless otherwise noted)

Ada pozoi		This is the yellow form. There also is a form that is more of a light green. It grows outside (coastal) in bright shade or filtered sun.
Aerides ringens		Grows outside (coastal) in a basket, in shady area. It received frequent waterings since it near the mounted plants.
Ansellia africana		Grows outside. This can be a rather large plant. Here is a closeup of the flower. There are several varieties. Ansellia africana var. nilotica has more yellow, with brown bands or spots. Closeup of flower. There also is an alba form (yellow and green rather than white, meets the definition because it has no anthocyanin pigment).
Bletilla ochracea		This plant was labelled "Bletilla striata - yellow" but it is actually a separate species. It grows under the same conditions as Bletilla striata.
Bletilla striata		The Vietnamese Ground Orchid grows outside. This terrestrial can be grown in the ground if the soil is well-drained, but is quite happy in a pot. It goes dormant in the winter (watering should be reduced, but it should not dry out completely for long periods). Closeup of flower. It has has an alba (completely white) color form in addition to the most common pink form.
Bulbophyllum lobbii		Grows in greenhouse. The hinged lip wobbles with the slightest breeze or motion of the plant.
Cattleya iricolor		Grown in greenhouse.
Cattleya skinneri		Grows outside (coastal) in filtered sun.
Cattleya warneri		Grows outside (coastal) in filtered sun. Closeup of the lip. Another flower and closeup.
Ceratochilus biglandulosus		Grows outside (coastal), mounted, in shade. The flower (about 3/4") is bigger than the plant, and the name is bigger than both of them. As the plant grows, it continues to produce new flowers throughout the year. A closeup of the flower.
Chysis bractescens		Grows outside (coastal) in bright shade. It seems to do better in a basket than it did in a pot. It loses most of its leaves in the winter - watering should be reduced (but not eliminated) until new growth begins in the spring.
Coelogyne ochracea		Grows outside (coastal) in bright shade or filtered sun. It is in a clay pot. It is extremely floriforous - this is the plant.
Dendrobium schrautii (williamsonii type)		Grows outside (coastal) on mount, in open shade. Closeup of flower shows spectacular lip.
Dendrobium teretifolium		Grows outside (coastal). It may bloom again in the summer or fall. It does best mounted, or potted in a very loose medium.
Elleanthus graminifolius		Grown in intermediate greenhouse. Small plant with delicate, grass-like leaves and tiny flowers.
Epidendrum embreii		Grows outside (coastal) in filtered sun. Closeup of flower from the side and from the front
Epidendrum falcatum		Grows outside (coastal), mounted, in open shade. Plant and growth habit are very similar to Epidendrum parkinsonianum. It is fragrant.
Epidendrum gastropodium		Grows outside(coastal) in filtered sun or open shade.
Epidendrum longipetalum		Grows outside, mounted, in bright shade or filtered sun. It blooms intermittently on the same inflorescence for as long as two years, so don't cut the inflorescence even though the end looks dead - it will probably branch for another flower.
Masdevallia colossus		Grows outside (coastal) in shade, in a clay pot. The clay helps keep the roots cool through the summer, since this (and other Masdevallias from high elevations) like to be cool and moist. Closeup of the lip and petals. (On Masdevallias, the sepals are the dominant feature, but they do have lip and petals, like all orchids.)
Masdevallia decumana		Grows outside (coastal) in shade. It needs to be kept cool and damp in summer. It was originally mounted, but is growing much better in a clay pot.
Mexicoa ghiesbreghtiana		This Oncidium relative grows outside (coastal), mounted, in filtered sun. Closeup of flower.
Odontoglossum spectatissimum		Grows outside (coastal) in open shade.
Oncidium harrisonianum		Grows outside (coastal) on a mount in bright shade or filtered sun. Closeup of flower.
Paphiopedilum philippinense		Grown in greenhouse.
Pholidota chinensis		Grows outide (coastal) in an open basket, in shade. It receives plentiful water, but the basket keeps it from staying too wet. Closeup of flower.
Restrepia sp. (antennifera type)		Grows outside (coastal) in shade. It wants to be fairly moist. A clay pot helps keep the roots cool in hot weather. The flower is a little larger than Restrepia antennifera but is very similar.
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii		Grows outside in filtered sun. It needs to dry out somewhat (not totally) in winter for best blooming. There is considerable variation in the flowers. Here's another example with more white, and still another, with much more pink.
Stelis purpurascens		Grows outside (coastal), in bright shade. Here is a closeup of the flower, and a view of the blooming plant.
Vanda tricolor		This is a distinctly different color form than the V. suavis, but it probably the same species.
Vanda tricolor v. suavis		Also called Vanda suavis. This is the best-known of the temperature-tolerant Vandas. It grows outside(coastal) and can tolerate as low as 32 deg. F, especially if kept dry. Closeup of flower. It is fragrant.