A Pandemonium of Paphiopedilums: Orchids of the DC Botanic Garden Continued

So many blooming paphiopedilum orchids on display

The DC Botanic Garden has some of the best displays of paphiopedilum orchids that I have ever seen in bloom!  So many species and hybrids, showcasing the amazing variety of blooms found in this genus.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.

These were my 7 favorites from the display

The Paphiopedilum species:
7): Paphiopedilum primulinum

Paphiopedilum primulinum

Paphiopedilum primulinum is a modest bloom, but that adds to its charm.  One can easily miss these small yellow flowers, amidst a room of showy hybrid blooms.  But this orchid has a unique super power; known as the "ever-bloom" paph, its spikes can flower continuously for 3 years!

6) Paphiopedilum primulinum var purpurascens

Paphiopedilum primulinum var purpurascens

Paphiopedilum primulinum comes in various hues, and I loved this purple variety. There is something very fairy-tale charming about this orchid.

5) Paphiopedilum insigne

Paphiopedilum insigne

Paphiopedilum insigne is the "type species" for the entire Paphiopedilum genus, meaning that the Paphiopedilum genus description is based on this species.  That makes Paphiopedilum insigne the quintessential Paph!  No matter what genus reorganization the taxonomists might undertake in the future, Paph insigne will always remain Paph insigne.

4) Paphiopedilum gratrixianum

Paphiopedilum gratrixianum

Paphiopedilum gratrixianum orchids come in many shapes and colors. This particular flower was so similar to the above Paph insigne, that I had to triple check that I hadn't accidentally mislabeled my photos!

3) Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum

Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum

This orchid reminds me of Paphiopedilum primulinum, but its flowers are larger, and its colors are more intense. This is another ever-blooming orchid, which produces sequential blooms from its flower spike. One spike can produce flowers for 12-18 months, and the orchid will often start producing flowers from a new flower spike before the old one retires.

2) Paphiopedilum spicerianum

Paphiopedilum spicerianum

Paphiopedilum spicerianum has been bred into a multitude of Paphiopedilum hybrids.  In fact, almost 400 registered Paph hybrids list Paphiopedilum spicerianum as either a seed or pollen parent.

....and my absolute favorite Paphiopedilum species from the conservatory was:

1) Paphiopedilum richardianum

Paphiopedilum richardianum

I absolutely love how the petals of this flower blend from the gentlest of pastel tones into the high contrast purple edges.  The orchid flowers with multiple blooms on a tall spike--definitely an attention-grabbing species!

Orchids from the DC Botanic Garden--all about the phragmipediums

Some of the most impressive displays at the DC Botanic Garden were the many dozens of blooming paph and phrag orchids. 

Also known as "Slipper Orchids", phragmipediums are orchids native to the Americas (not to be confused with paphiopedilums which originate from Asia).  There are approximately 20-30 species in this genus. 

Phragmipedium caudatum

Phragmipedium caudatum is a species endemic in Peru and Bolivia. The orchid has flowers which range in hue from green to shades of terracotta orange.  The flowers have long petals, up to 2.5 feet in length!

Phragmipedium longifolium

Phragmipedium Sedenii

Phragmipedium Sedenii is actually a cross between P. longifolium and P schlimii. Registered in 1873, it is one of the first manmade orchid hybrids.

Phragmipedium Grande

Phragmipedium Grande is a cross between P. longifolium and P. humboldtii. This phrag had the longest petals of all the orchids on display.

Phragmipedium Cardinale

Phragmipedium Cardinale is a cross between P. Sedenii, and P. Schlimii.

Phragmipedium Urgandiae 'Duke's Royal'

Another primary hybrid, Phragmipedium Urgandiae is a cross between P. lindleyanum and P. longifolium.

Phragmipedium Appalachian Sunset

Phragmipedium Sorcerer's Apprentice

Another primary hybrid, this orchid is a cross between P. longifolium and P. sargentianum.

Orchids of the DC Botanic Garden

United States Botanic Garden

In November I traveled to Washington DC for work.  So, of course, on my last day in town, I went to see the Conservatory at the United States Botanic Garden looking for orchids to photograph.  Built in 1867, the Conservatory offers free entrance, and features models of landmarks from around the capital city, amid a lush greenhouse.

Where are the orchids?

I walked around the greenhouse, and explored the elevated walkways looking for orchid flowers.  At first I was worried that I would be leaving empty-handed. But as I walked deeper into the greenhouse, I started finding specimen sized orchids. And then I came to the orchid room.

Orchids blooming at the US Botanic Garden

Although a relatively small space, this room had nearly a 100 different species and hybrids of orchids beautifully blooming on display. I saw more paphs and phrags than ever before.  In fact, there were so many different varieties of certain orchids, that I will be saving them for a future post.  But for now, check out some of these beautiful orchid flowers!

Angraecum eburneum var. giryamae 'Penn Valley' specimen

Angraecum eburneum var. giryamae 'Penn Valley' closeup

Brasiliorchis picta 

Brasiliorchis picta closeup

Bratonia Charles M. Fitch 'Izumi'

Calanthe Rozel 'Mendenhall' x Calanthe Rozel 'Newberry'

Cattleya Eleanor Roosevelt

Coelogyne rochussenii

Coelogyne rochussenii closeup

Coelogyne trinervis

Cymbidium Cherry Cola

Cymbidium Milton Carpenter 'Everglades Gold'

Epicatanthe Volcano Trick 'Orange Fire'

Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO'

Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO' closeup

Laelia rubescens

Laelia rubescens closeup

Mesadenella cuspidata

Mesadenella cuspidata closeup

Mormolyca ringens

Oncidium Sunlight 'Hilo Honey'

Rhyncholaeliocattleya Hausermann's Holiday 'Christmas'

Vanda Pachara Delight 'Pachara'

Vanda Sonpon

purple Vanda hybrid

Vandachostylis Colmarie 'Carmella'

Vandachostylis Colmarie 'Carmella' closeup

Zygopetalum maculatum

Zygopetalum maculatum closeup

And this is not everything! I had to leave out all the bulbophyllums, dendrobiums, paphiopedilums, and phragmipediums, because each one of those categories could easily be a new post the size of this one.  I have never seen such variety of orchids in one place.  Anyone who loves these beautiful flowers should visit the US Botanic Garden if they get the chance.

Orchids at work

Orchids at work

Hi again! This Summer (and Fall) have been an incredibly busy time for me. I finally finished graduate school (woo-hoo!), and then proceeded to move three times in three months (not recommended).  The blog posts fell by the wayside while that was going on, but now I am ready to start writing and posting again.  This summer I had the great opportunity to meet and speak at the Long Island Orchid Society, who are some incredibly friendly and knowledgeable orchid enthusiasts.  I picked up some new plants, and I look forward to sharing their flowers you.

For the past month, my orchid terrarium went into storage, while my orchids traveled to occupy my workspace. The change in environment worked better for some of my plants than for others.  The orchids get a lot of natural light from the North-facing window.  So much, in fact, that I burned a few of my phals when I had placed them too close to the glass.  Also the air is much drier here than in my terrarium at home-- I'm watering most of my plants multiple times a week.  

Fresh growth on Dendrobium Burana Sundae

Some of my orchids have really thrived with the change.  Dendrobium Burana Sundae is rapidly growing new leaves.  I've had this orchid for 4 years now, and had no luck in getting it to bloom for me.  Since it seems to be growing so well at my workspace, I think I will be keeping it here even after the rest of the flowers move home with me next month.

New spike on Ctt Jewel Box 'Scheherazade'

 Another orchid that is thriving in the new environment is my Cattlianthe Jewel Box 'Scheherazade'  This orchid last flowered for me in 2012, and for the first time in 5 years I am seeing the promise of a flower spike forming!

On the other hand, my reliable Phals need to get back to my terrarium as soon as it is ready again.  This is the time of year when the drop in temperatures usually produces a burst of new flower spikes.  But my workplace turns on the heating in the winter, so the phals haven't gotten their signal to start blooming.  

I also have a new Restrepia orchid which has been blooming for me all summer, which I look forward to sharing as soon as its next bloom matures. Be back soon!