Myrmecophelia or Schombergkia ????

I have posted a number of my orchids as they were blooming over the years. The first orchid I was ever given was identified to me by a friend, who later gifted me several other orchids.

He identified this first orchid as a Schombergkia. As a result, over the years, as I received other orchids and upon observing their blooms have identified them as Schombergkias as well.




Last year, after a visit with Joann Andrews, a local orchid expert, she informed me that many Schombergkias (Schom) had been reclassified as Myrmecophelias (Myrme); OKAY yeah, whatever... I'm not that big a stickler for details. (Myrmecophila with means 'Friends of Ants'. In the wild there is a species of ants that nests in the hollow pseudobulb of this orchid. The ants eat all the insects that would attack the plant and the plant provides them a home in return.)

So today, Jim, of Naturalist Newsletter, posted info and photos of an orchid he encountered down in the Mahahual area. I emailed him and we started a discussion on Schom vs Myrme. OKAY, OKAY, I need to step up and realize that probably most of my Schoms are really Myrmes. I need to check the pseudobulbs, and if the are hollow then they are indeed Myrmecophelia.

Gads! There's always something needs to be done!

que horror, a tragedy in my garden

As many of my regular readers know,  I keep orchids; I can't really say I grow them, as they pretty much grow themselves.  I just move them around until I find the place where they seem happy.

I have been gifted many of my orchids, and make it a habit to continue that goodness, by gifting from my orchids.

Orchids seem to do best when some old growth is excised.  From that old growth, given happy conditions, new growth will sprout, and from that new growth will come your flowers.

I have an old tree branch on which are two Schumbergia orchids and a bromeliad.  It has taken 2 years and several moves but I finally found a location where these 2 orchids are happy.  One of the clumps has/had a meter tall (3+ foot) plant spike. 

 It would have been profuse with flowers in about a month,     EXCEPT   the jardinero (gardener) that comes and helps me in the garden once or twice a month was here yesterday!

So here is the orchid with Tom pointing out the plant spike

Here is what the orchid looks like now!

Here is where the gardener, yeah right, cut the plant spike off, and threw it in the compost....

And here sits the retreived plant spike,

which will be used to explain all about orchids to the flower killer when he returns.

I can't even explain how I felt when I noticed the plant spike gone, and then saw that it had been cut, not even an accident but a thoughht out decided action. I am calmer now, and am taking some of the blame, in having expected that as he calls himself a gardener that he would be familiar with orchids.  They are after all not a 'common' kept plant by the locals...BullShit. He's a frickin nitwit!!!!!!

OK, on a pleasant note,  here is a phalenopsis that I have currently bloomimg with 5 huge blossums!

he better not touch this plant or I may sever a few of his fingers!

Orchids - Cattleya Skinneri

I'm not sure how I could have overlooked posting this orchids blooming, but apparently I did.

In March of 2007 we went on a trip to Chiapas. I acquired several orchids on that trip. One was this little Cattleya. I had it in a pot with bark chips but It did not like that environment. I then sat it in the broken terracotta bowl with a bit of spagnum moss for moisture and it resonded very well.

Orchids - Schomburgkia Tibicinis

Friend Mario, an avid Orchid grower, and incredible orchid culture resource here in Merida went Orchid hunting with friends back in December of 2007.

They were hunting in the area near Uaymitun, which is a beach community North and East of Merida. There was, and still is a lot of construction going on so is a perfect place to hunt when you see construction starting as most likely all plantlife will be removed.

Mario, knowing of my growing interest in Orchids graciously and generously brought me several plants from this adventure.

This particular plant has been moved a few times to find a location where it seemed happy and so has finally transitioned, and this year I have my first blossoms. The spike is nearly 5 ft long. There are currently 12 flowers or buds, with more on the way.

This is the orchid on the bark log, you can see the first flower hanging on my clothesline. Keep in mind this flower spike is nearly 5 feet long.

This is a little closer view of the plant.

The first 2 flowers with several buds in view

and a little closer.

This orchid Schomburgkia Tibicinis, is apparently also known as Myrmecophilia Tibicinis, Catteleya Tibicinis, and Epidendrum Tibicinis.

One thing I did find while while trying to provide proper placement of this Orchid is that they like quite a bit more direct sun than I would have thought. I kept wanting it to be in a mostly shady spot, but it really started to respond when it got quite a bit of direct light and sun.

Orchids - Dig This!

Rhyncholaelia Digbyana that is -

I got blooms last year in December and January, and this year it is blooming in November. Could be the really cool nights we are having right now!

I have quite a few orchids with flower spikes, mostly the Schumbergkias. My Oeceoclades bloomed in September. I have quite a few that I have yet to accurately identify, so am eager for the blooming to begin.

Puppy Update - Corre went to live with Gary on September 19. Reports are that both are happy! I have avoided asking for a visit, just too difficult; But hear through mutual acquaintances that all seems to be well.

We had 2 people interested in Tech but both were unwilling to take her until all parasites were gone, which here in the tropics is practically impossible and is only effective with regular quarterly drugs. Even healthy dogs apparently require the quarterly maintenance drugs. Being from Colorado, the high desert, we never really had to deal with any of these issues so it's been a real learning experience. So anyway, with only ONE puppy in residence the dynamic changed tremendously and we've decided to not say 'Good-Bye' to Tech.

Somehow she seemed to know - Duh, just look at that face!

HUH?

Here she is helping Tom to clean papers from the file cabinet, She's the safety shredder.

Orchids I keep - Oeceoclades maculata

I keep orchids. I wish I could say I grow orchids, but in reality I acquire them, try to do what I read or hear works, and they usually manage to make it. Sometimes they even bloom.

In January of 2007, on a trip to Chichen Itza with friends I acquired this orchid. (don't ask)It was in loose rubble of stones and woody debris. I decided since I found it in ground I'd plant it in ground, this is called terrestrial.

Orchids are quite difficult to name until they bloom. For whatever reason I have not been able to find a source to identify orchids by leaf, only by bloom.

Therefore until it bloomed this was just simply my Chichen Orchid.

So, I have had this orchid since January 2007 and it is blooming. This is a small plant and the blooms are no bigger than a dime. The flowers are not flashy or showy, and in all honesty kind of a boring little flower, but hey, it's mine, and it's blooming. I'm thrilled.

the pencil is for scale, just a standard #2 type pencil

According to my Orchid book this particular orchid is NOT native to the Yucatan, but is considered a noxious weed. This plant made it's way to the N.American continent from Asia in grass seed.

I don't have the ability to take a good close-up so have pulled this photo from the internet just so you can see a good representation.

Oeceoclades maculata - Photo © Peter M.C. Werner