Brand new species Anacheilium terassanianum Campacci & Harding

[Rosim_in_BR]

This is brand new to science. The plant has been described in the September/2008 issue of the AOS magazine 'Orchids'. The name is in honor of a great friend of mine, Waldormiro Terassan, who I have the pleasure to meet almost every week. He is an old orchid lover and collector. He found the plant decades ago, a single specimen, on a small piece of remaining forest, actually more a group of trees than any other thing, on a small farm he owned in Juquiá, a small city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. He knew the flowers were similar to Anacheilium (or Prosthechea) fragrans, but not the same. The plant anyway remained undescribed until now.
The flowers are wonderfully fragrant and the plant is somewhat creeping.
My plant is a piece of the original found. I've been growing it for the last two years.

The plant and flowers view:
Anacheilium terassanianum Campacci & Harding - plant on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

A single spike:
Anacheilium terassanianum Campacci & Harding on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

A close up view of one flower:
Anacheilium terassanianum Campacci & Harding on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Tindomul]

That is so pretty. Its like the dressed up for a night of dancing version of my A. cochleata. Beautiful!

[Shirley]

That's a very pretty bloom. Star-like!

[orchideric]

Dear Mauro,

There are so many horticulturally desirable species of Anacheilium in Brazil but for unknown reasons we don't see them here in the U.S. Pity.

Eric

[priz_m]

That is amazing! wow! thank you for sharing Mauro!

[Royal]

Wow, yet another beauty! It's fun to see these new ones. Any plans to propagate this one?

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Wow, yet another beauty! It's fun to see these new ones. Any plans to propagate this one?

Yes, Royal, it is selfed already. We have to spread it to ensure its survival as species.

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by orchideric

Dear Mauro,

There are so many horticulturally desirable species of Anacheilium in Brazil but for unknown reasons we don't see them here in the U.S. Pity.

Eric

Too bad that the genus is not spread in the USA, Eric. You are right, Brazil has many desirable Anacheilium species. And I am sure that several are yet to be described. The vespa complex for example, in spite of the increasing efforts, is not well understood yet and deserved a deep revision in order to establish a good taxonomic base for the species involved. Just as an example, I grow a plant that I call Anacheilium vespa var. albinum, but I am not sure of its status. I think that there's a good chance it is an undescribed species (take a look below). Like this, there are several others that would deserve more attention to clarify their status.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Rosim_in_BR

Yes, Royal, it is selfed already. We have to spread it to ensure its survival as species.

Let me know if you want to "spread" it to Texas.

[Carl Austin]

What a thrill it would be to find a plant like that - knowing that it was new to the orchid growing world and then to eventually have it named after you.
Your friend is a lucky man, Mauro

Carl