This Mormodes, once bought as a young plant grown from seed, is the first one that I was able to keep growing for more than ten years now. It is of Mexican origin, from warm forests along the Pacific coast. The name is derived from the Aztec language or Nahuatl, meaning 'red hair stone'. The volcanic 'Cerro del Tezontle' provides a typical and important construction material. It is relatively easy to cut, and so precolumbian cultures with their stone age tools were able to use it. It is also widely used in colonial buildings in the Central Valley. But the Mormodes does not grow on the slopes of the volcano. Infact the type plant had flowers in the colour of the typical tezontle 'moonrock'.
As with many species of Mormodes, appearantly the offspring gives a large number of dark red and also a large number of pale yellow flowered plants. Grows well in birchwood sawdust. Attempts to pollinate with Clowesia failed. Interestingly a hot morning launched all pollinia of open flowers.
EPIDENDRA .:. Mormodes tezontle
Mormodes tezontle
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