Homalopetalum pumilio is amicro-minature plant, the tiny pseudobulbs and leaves (in this case) 2 cm tall with a flower that 3-4 cm in size. It is related to Cattleya and is found from Mexico through Central America into northern South America, Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru. It's flowers are a translucent whitish-green or in another former, a pale yellowish-green. This particular plant is the cooler-growing Mexican form.
Homalopetalum pumilio is a tiny species from Mexico and Central America and is related to Cattleya. The plant with its tiny pseudobulbs and leaves is only 2 cm tall. They grow in succession and each growth produces one flower. The flowers dwarf the plant at 4 cm, though flower size varies considerably with the plants from Mexico having larger flowers than those from Central America. The flowers from the Mexican cersion are also more white than the green flowers from Central America.
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Dracontia pachyglossa, also known as Pleurothallis paphyglossa, is a species from Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. My plant is 15cm tall with flower spikes equally long that come from the base of the leaf and bloom successively with four to five 2 cm flowers. The plant is temperature tolerant and like most Pleurothallids prefers good humidity and air movement.
Homalopetalum pumilio is a tiny relative of the huge Cattleyas, the smallest of which dwarf this micro-miniature plant. It is from Mexico, Central America and western South America. It has tiny pseudobulbs 5 mm tall with a leave at the top of the pseudobulb that is 8 mm long. The flowers, however, are huge for the size of the plant, 5-6 cm tall that either green or whitish-green in color. The flowers come singly on wiry inflorescences that are around 5 cm long. It is one of my favorite miniature orchids.
When I posted this tiny species previously, I was not very happy with the photos. It is in bloom once again and this time I managed to get some good pictures of the flowers which show how transparent they are and which give a much better idea of their charm. They are tiny, only 3 mm across, and are on a plant only 4-5 cm tall. The plant grows across Central America and into Mexico. It is best grown mounted since it forms a kind of mat of leaves and though reputed to bloom in the spring, always blooms for me in the fall.
Stelis purpurascens is a large and robust plant from Mexico, Central and South America. The plant itself is about 25 cm tall and the flower spikes which come from the joint of leaf and stem add another 20 cm to the height of the plant. It is really too large for my space and I am going to have to trade or sell it.
Know as the coconut orchid for its scent - it smells exactly like fresh coconut - Maxillaria tenuifolia is from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It is easy to grow and a common orchid in collections, often growing into very large clumps with hundreds of flowers.
This tiny species is native to Mexico and all of Central America. Very widespread, it is also tolerant of different temperatures, though it needs good humidity. The plant it self is about 3 cm tall and grows as a mat of narrow leaves. The flower spikes, which are about the same length as the leaves, carry 4-5 flowers at a time and continue to bloom for a lengthy period.
Brassavola nodosa 'Mickey Mouse' is a miniature version of a species that is normally much larger. Brassavola nodosa ordinarily has terete (pencil-like) growths that are around 15 cm long and has flowers about 9 cm in size. This clone is less than half that size.
Brassavola nodosa ranges across Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. It is very fragrant at night , hence the nickname, "Lady of the Night." It is often used in hybridizing and imparts both its spidery shape and good color to its offspring.
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