In the orchid world, "species" are those orchids that occur naturally in nature. Depending who you ask, the blooms of a species is better, the same or not as dramatic as the bloom of a hybdrid orchid. Most species orchids are less forgiving in a growing area they are not accustomed to and the result will be disappointing (specially for the orchid). Understanding the cultivation needs of species orchids will serve as a guide for the care of a hybrid that includes particular species in its background.
Enjoy browsing the Orchids
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Common Name: Dodson's Clowesia [American botanist and orchidologist current] Flower Size: 1.2 to 1.4" [3 to 3.5 cm] long
Found in Mexico in the state of Michoacan in tropical forests at elevations of 100 to 600 meters as a medium sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte or occasional lithophyte with ovoid-sub-conical top elongate, sulcate pseudobulbs carrying imbricate, distichous, elliptic, acuminate, basal ones shorter, middle ones longer, apical ones longest, 3 veined leaves that blooms in the late spring through mid fall on 1 to 3, basal, arising on a new pseudobulb, lateral, pendent, racemose, 7.2 to 15.6" [18 to 39 cm] long, 12 to 30 flowered inflorescence with triangular bracts and lanceolate floral bracts and carrying fragrant flowers.
CAUTION!!!! This species and C thylaciochila have been confused for years. This one differs in the ovoid-sub-conical pseudobulbs, the non-compact inflorescence, the greenish white flowers, the lip that is like a shallow bag, with erect, lateral lobes and the mid-lobe widens apically, the stipe ends in 2 horn-like projections, it flowers from June through October and lastly it occurs at elevations below 600 meters.
Description: Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia Photo (left) of the Cl dodsoniana "Nadia Tavarez" AM/AOS, courtesy Fred Clarke, Sunset Valley Orchids |
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Common Name: The Rose-colored Clowesia Flower Size 1" [2.5 cm]
Found in Michoacan and Oaxaca states of Mexico on the Pacific slope in oak forests or tropical deciduous forests at elevations around 500 to 1300 meters as a small to medium sized, warm to cool growing, deciduous leafed epiphyte with pseudobulbs enveloped basally by gray overlapping sheaths and carrying 4 to 5, apical, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, flexible, long-attenuate to the articulate base leaves that blooms in the early winter on a short to 4 3/4" [to 12 cm], racemose inflorescence carrying several, campanulate, fragrant flowers and arises from the base of mature leafless or leafed psuedobulbs.
This species starts to lose its mature leaves in the fall so as this occurs water and fertilize much less, until the new growths appear in the spring and are 1" or longer. At that time you can resume a well watered and heavily fed regimen, thereby allowing the new pseudobulb and leaves to mature.
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Common Name: Russell's Clowesia [English Duke of Bedford and Orchid Grower 1800's] Flower Size 2.5" [6.25 cm]
A large sized, warm growing, epiphytic species from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela found in fairly dry, open forests at elevations of 600 to 1000 meters with ovoid, several noded, grooved with age pseudobulbs mostly enveloped by the sheaths of 6 to 8 plicate, deciduous, suberect, oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, acute leaves that blooms in the summer through fall on a 15" [37.5 cm] long, basal, pendulous, many [15 to 20] flowered inflorescence arising on a mature leafed or leafless pseudobulb with ovate bracts and carries many sweetly fragrant, fleshy flowers.
Description and Photo (left) courtesy Fred Clarke, Sunset Valley Orchids |
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This species starts to lose its mature leaves in the fall so as this occurs water and fertilize much less, until the new growths appear in the spring and are 1" or longer. At that time you can resume a well watered and heavily fed regimen, thereby allowing the new pseudobulb and leaves to mature.
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Here is a really special and rare offering. This seldom-seen Clowesia species has a name that is a bit complicated to pronounce: thylaciochila (thigh-lass-see-OH-kye-lah). It is native to Mexico, growing along the Pacific coastline in the states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero and Oaxaca. I spent years trying to source this species, but it was elusive. Finally, I was lucky enough to locate some plants, and they have grown into impressive specimens. Flowers are produced in late June with the developing new growths, making them the first Clowesia species of the year to flower. Flower production is incredible: hundreds of light green flowers with darker green stripes cascade over and cover all sides of the hanging baskets. And the fragrance is amazing! The whole growing area becomes infused with it. Very rare and not to be missed! (Photo and description care of Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids)
The image far right is from Sunset Valley Orchids and most likely is not this particular plant or it's parents. However it is representative of how magniificant these orchids can become at maturity.
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Common Name Warczewitzii's Clowesia [Polish Orchid Collector 1800's] Flower Size 1 1/2" [6.25 cm]
This species is a medium sized, warm to hot growing epiphyte that is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Ecuador in tropical, moist forests at altitudes around 70 to 500 meters with narrowly ovoid to oblong, sulcate with age pseudobulbs carrying 4 to 6 apical, elliptic-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, deciduous leaves that blooms in the fall in the northern hemisphere [spring in Ecuador] on a pendant, to 15" [30 cm] long, several [15 to 20] to many flowered, racemose inflorescence that arises from the base of a mature pseudobulb without leaves and carries showy, fragrant, flsehy flowers.
Photo by © Jay Pfahl |
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