New York Orchid Show 2013: Terrestrial Orchids

Ludisia discolor

     I'm running up quite the backlog of updates on my orchids, since I've dedicated the last three weeks for posting photos from the New York Orchid Show.  This set on terrestrial orchids is the second to last.  Either tomorrow or the day after I will post a very small set of photos on cattleyas from the show, and after that I will be happy to get back to writing about updates on my own orchid collection.  The last few weeks have been quite busy, with at least 4 new blooming updates to come.

      In the meantime, here are the terrestrial orchids from the show.  Like the Black Jewel Orchid pictured above, these orchids are unique in that they grow in soil (rather than epiphytically or lithophytically).  Unfortunately I did not get any clear shots of the Ludisia discolor blooms, but it's little white flowers were not particularly showy anyway.  The orchid is most prized for the striking patterning on its leaves.

Epidendrum Secret Valley 'Orange Sugar'

Epidendrum Secret Valley 'Orange Sugar' 

Epidendrum Secret Valley 'Orange Sugar'

     The above three shots are different angles of Epidendrum Secret Valley.  The show had several large plots covered with these flowers. Epidendrums are reed-like orchids, that grow these long arching stems.  I'm not sure why the flowers in the middle picture were a different shade of orange than the other ones, since all very labeled as the same cross.  

Epidendrum secundum

     Epidendrum secundum is a varied species found in many parts of the Caribbean  Central and South America.  The flowers come in different shades, and the ones at the show were a lovely shade of lilac.

Gastrophaius Micro Burst 'Orchtoberfest'

Gastrophaius Micro Burst 'Orchtoberfest'

     Phaius are among my favorite orchids which I will never grow in NYC because of their size demands.  At last year's Orchid Show, the Phaius tankervilleae left such a great impression on me, that I was one click away from ordering one for myself a few days later.  Ultimately, I came to my senses and realized that I had no room left for a 5-foot tall sun-loving shrub.

Phaius tankvervilleae

     I did not see P. tankervilleae at the garden this year, but they did have a hybrid which uses it as a parent.  Gastrophaius Micro Burst is a cross between Gastrochis pulchra and P. tankvervilleae.

Spathoglottis plicata

Spathoglottis plicata

     Spathoglottis plicata are a smallish terrestrial species found in tropical and subtropical Asia and Western Pacific.  There were a couple different color forms present.