Trisetella hoeijeri

This tiny orchid is related to Masdevallia and used to be classified with them.  It is native to Ecuador, grows at high elevations and requires cool temperatures.  It is named after its Swedish discover who found it first in 1990.  Because of its tiny size it is best grown mounted on a twig or small branch and needs good humidity and frequent watering.

The plant itself is only 2-3 cm tall but the flowers are 3 cm by 5.5 cm measured from the tips of the tails.  They have a sparkling texture and look like little white birds in flight.  The flowers are carried on thin wiry spikes that are about 3.5 cm long.  It blooms off and on year around but produces a flush of flowers in the late spring or early summer.

It is very different both in flower shape and color from most of the other species in the genus.  Most of them have reddish or purplish flowers with a rather cupped shape and are quite small in comparison to this species.  For these reasons the species is also one of the more desirable in the genus and was much sought after when first discovered.

Phalaenopsis Be Tris 'Zuma Nova'

This is really a switch from my previous posts.  This is not a miniature, is not cool-growing, is not grown in my orchidarium, but I thought I'd post it anyway.  It is one of only a couple Phalaenopsis plants I still have, including a couple of species, and is grown on a bathroom windowsill with a southern exposure and good strong but diffused light through the privacy glass.

It is blooming here for the first time and looks like it will have quite a few small but attractive flowers.  I haven't made up my mind yet whether I'll keep it or trade it, but will probably enjoy the flowers for a while first.  The flowers are only 4 cm by 5 cm but the plant is a typical Phalaenopsis and though probably not full grown is about 35-40 cm across.

The plant is a cross of Phalaenopsis Be Glad and Phalaenopsis equestris, and this particular clone has an award from the American Orchid Society, a Highly Commended Certificate (HCC/AOS).  The cross was made by Krull-Smith in 1989, so it is quite old, but has quite a few awards, this one given in 2001.  As far as I can tell the flowers are not fragrant.

Masdevallia fuchsii

Here's another species in the Saltatrices group, i.e., tubular flowers with a "belly" and hairy glands on the inside of the tube.  This species is from Ecuador and is a miniature, only 10 cm tall, with flowers that measure 4 cm each way.  With its bright colored flowers, spreading tails and sweet scent, it is a favorite of mine.

Elongatia guttata

Known also as Pleurothallis janetiae, Stelis janetiae and Elogatia janetiae, the name at the top of this post is the name under which this attractive species is currently recognized.  It is from Costa Rica and supposed to be warm to hot growing, but does well for me with other cool-temperature Pleurothallids.

My plant is 8cm tall and produces its flowers in succession on thin wiry spikes that tend to be pendant.  The plant for that reason is best grown mounted, though my plant at present is in a pot.  The flowers are close to 2cm tall and are nearly transparent, one of the selling points of this species.

Masdevallia ampullacea 'Connor' CHM/AOS

Masdevallia ampullacea is another species in the saltatrices section of the genus Masdevallia.  That translates into tubular flowers with longish tails and a kind of bulging "belly" at the base of the flowers.  This group includes many of my favorite Masdevallia species.

The plant is small, 6-7cm tall, and the flowers which are held on spikes near the top of the leaves are 7cm tall from the tips of the tails.  The flowers have a faint sweetish scent that I cannot identify and have hair-like glands on the inside of the tube.  The plant hails from Ecuador.

Muscarella megalops

Also known as Specklinia megalops and Pleurothallis megalops, this unusual species is from the Ecuadorean Andes.  The plant is only about 5 cm tall and the few, widely spaced flowers are carried on wiry spikes that tend to hang down.  The name, megalops, refers to the very large (and hairy) lip that is characteristic of this species.

Masdevallia filaria

Masdevallia filaria is another species from the Saltatrices section of Masdevallia.  Compared with the flowers of Masdevallia ventricularia in the previous post the relationship is obvious.  Both have the tubular shape and "belly" that are characteristic of this section.

The plant of this species is about 10 cm tall and the flowers 5 cm in height.  Like the previous species it blooms in the spring and comes from Colombia.  Its name, filaria, refers to the thread-like tails of the flowers and it sometimes considered to be the same species as ventricularia.