Catasetum flowers

[Greenthumb.5]

I think evil lives inside this catasetum's flower only to gaze at its owner with its glowing red eyes.


And I still need to learn how to post pics on this site without having you guys being tortured of going to a site just to see it.

---------- Post added at 09:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 PM ----------

Sorry, try this one.
http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/...pscbc8ef7e.jpg

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0834c810.jpg

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/...psff1ac788.jpg

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/...ps97b1a63a.jpg

[Leafmite]

They are quite a cool-looking flower!

[RJSquirrel]

you mean like this?


if you make the flowers catapult the pollen at you the flowers start to wilt did you know that? theres a trigger inside the flower and if you trip it it will fling some rather stikky nasty stuff at you. Im serious.


copy the url or click on save image location then find the little landscape looking box that says insert image and paste it and then you know how to do it

[Greenthumb.5]

Yeah I had been a victim as well as a lizard, bugs, my dog, and my family.

But it is a great plant to keep.

[isurus79]

This is very cool. Do you know the name of the cross?

[kindrag23]

ummm this is like one of the coolest things i have ever seen it almost looks like a halloween prop....where could I find one of these bad little dudes!!!

---------- Post added at 12:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 AM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

This is very cool. Do you know the name of the cross?

That would be amazing if you did I have a friend obsessed with halloween and thia would be right up her ally

---------- Post added at 12:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

This is very cool. Do you know the name of the cross?

That would be amazing if you did I have a friend obsessed with halloween and thia would be right up her ally

[Greenthumb.5]

This cross is Mo. Painted Desert 'SVO' FCC/AOS x Ctsm. fimbriatum v. morenlanum 'SVO'. I got this plant from a local nursery in Fla and was his only one. I think he crossed his own plants. But I am thinking about dividing some of this plant and selling them when I get around to repotting this devil orchid. But it scares me.

[nikkik]

It is a very cool flower!!

[Island Girl]

Wow! That's really awesome!! ....how does it "fling" the pollen at you? And why does it do this? (ie what about the pollinator makes it nessecary to do this) ...what is the trigger? Sorry for all the questions, it's just fascinating! I didn't know orchids did that!

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

....how does it "fling" the pollen at you? And why does it do this? (ie what about the pollinator makes it nessecary to do this) ...what is the trigger? Sorry for all the questions, it's just fascinating! I didn't know orchids did that!

It does it to ensure pollination of it's flowers. Catesetum flowers are male or female and most times you will find only one or the other on a spike...so the plant has evolved this mechanism to ensure the pollen gets to where it needs to be.

If you do a bit of research on the Catasetinae alliance you'll find they are a fascinating group of orchids.

Here's a you tube showing hte trigger mechanism....

Pollination mechanism in Catasetum fimbriatum (Orchidaceae) - YouTube

I can't tell you how many times I have accidentally triggered the pollen. Some are more sensitive than others and just the right touch can cause them to go off. I cringe whenever I do it because the flower will fade off quick after it's happened.