Orchids | Orchid Flowers: dendrobium limpidum

Showing posts with label dendrobium limpidum. Show all posts

April 16, 2015

Dendrobium limpidum 'Ashley'

Dendrobium limpidum is from New Guinea and belongs to the Pedilonum section of Dendrobium. This group of Dendrobiums have arching or pendant canes and most of them are quite large. This plant is one of the smallest in the group. It is considered by some to be the same plant as Dendrobium dichaeoides and the plants do resemble another orchid genus named Dichaea with their closely set alternating leaves. The canes are about 10 cm in length and produce clusters of rather small flowers that impress more by their bright color and number than by their individual beauty. The flowers are less than 2 cm but come in clusters of around 15 flowers. Like the other flowers in the Pedilonum section the flowers tend to be more or less tubular. In this case the flowers are not only tubular but do not open very far and have a lip that curls up to block most of the open end of the flowers. This can be seen in the close-up photos. One very nice thing about this species is that the older canes continue to produce flowers for several years, though the new canes do not bloom the first year. The older canes eventually lose their leaves but will even then continue to produce flowers. On another note: I took this plant in for judging a few days after I posted this and it received a cultural award (Certificate of Cultural Merit) from the American Orchid Society.

Dendrobium limpidum 'Ashley'

Dendrobium limpidum is from New Guinea and belongs to the Pedilonum section of the very large Dendrobium genus. This group of Dendrobiums have arching or pendant canes and most of them are quite large. This plant is one of the smallest in the group.

It is considered by some to be the same plant as Dendrobium dichaeoides. Whether the same or not I am unable to judge, but the plants do resemble another orchid genus named Dichaea with their closely set alternating leaves, and are quite beautiful in their own right.

The canes are about 10 cm in length and produce clusters of rather small flowers that impress more by their bright color and number than by their individual beauty. The flowers are less than 2 cm but come in clusters of around 15 flowers.

Like the plants in the Pedilonum section the flowers tend to be more or less tubular. In this case the flowers are not only tubular but do not open very far and have a lip that curls up to block most of the open end of the flowers. This can be seen in the close-up photos.

One very nice thing about this species is that the older canes continue to produce flowers for several years, though the new canes do not bloom the first year. The older canes eventually lose their leaves but will even then continue to produce flowers.

My plant is grown mounted and given as much light as I am able to give it. It is watered every day and seems to be quite easy as long as the temperatures are not too high and the humidity not too low. That it's happy is evidenced by the number of flowers this year.

Dendrobium limpidum 'Ashley' CBR/AOS

Dendrobium limpidum is from New Guinea and belongs to the Pedilonum section of the genus Dendrobium, a group of mostly semi-pendant cane-type plants. This species is one of the smallest in the section with thickened canes 10-12cm long. The 2cm flowers, which do not open very widely, are produced in clusters, and though the individual flowers are quite small, the plant puts on a good show since both the color and number of the flowers are eye-catching and foliage very beautiful also. My plant was given a Certificate of Botanical Recognition by the American Orchid Society (CBR/AOS).

Northwest Orchid Society Show

This post is long overdue. The show featured in the post was held last spring and I have only now gotten around to sorting the pictures and posting some of them here for your perusal.

The Northwest Orchid Society draws from the Seattle area and is larger than our own Mount Baker Orchid Society. Its show is held every spring at a large nursery in Shoreline, Washington.

I did not have a display in the show or plants in the Mount Baker Society display, but did attend and brought several plants for American Orchid Society judging, three of which were awarded.

Shows are notoriously difficult for good pictures, though this show is better than many with a lot of table top exhibits backed with black velvet. I apologize for the poor quality of some pictures

I apologize, too, for the fact that I did not get all the names. I make a practice of photographing the tags along with the plants, but in some cases forget to do so or do not find a name with the plant.

CATTLEYA ALLIANCE

Brassolaeliocattleya Ann Morning 'Paradise'