Epidendrum pseudonocturnum

[Mahon]

Ok, so I had Epidendrum pseudonocturnum in bloom recently, which is similar to Epi. nocturnum, except that Epi. pseudonocturnum is a larger species, both vegetatively and florally.

This species is recorded from multiple South American countries, and was confused with Epi. nocturum. True Epi. pseudonocturnum are very hard to come by, they are sometimes passed as Epi. nocturnum. I find it an easy species to grow in my climate, but in other's conditions, you may not be able to keep the plant alive but more than a few minutes... they need constant humidity, and stagnant water underneath the plant is a MUST. My plant is a specimen, about 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall... the longest cane is about two and a half feet... the old stems keep blooming from the same, old, dead-looking inflorescence...

Here are the pics, these are High-Resolution, and are in link form because of that:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/pamahon/A.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/pamahon/AA.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/pamahon/AAA.jpg

-P.A. Mahon

[Tindomul]

OMG, those are gorgeous! Good growing!!
So, ahh,, whats up with the species name of nocturnum?

[Mahon]

Tin,

Thanks! Well, Epidendrum nocturnum, the species epithet may derive from the Latin word 'noctis', which means 'night', or it could derive from a Greek word I am unfamiliar with... then Epidendrum pseudonocturnum derives from the Greek word 'pseudo-', meaning 'false', and then maybe the Latin word 'noctis'... that combination doesn't make that much sense, a Greek prefix with a Latin word... any other ideas?

-Pat

[Tindomul]

Yea, well I ment, does the plant do anything related to the night, or look like night, or something along those lines? I was just curious thats all.

[Mahon]

Oh, I see... it is fragrant ONLY at night time... Epi. pseudonocturnum blooms for two days, so it is fragrant twice... while an Epi. nocturnum only blooms for a single day, and is fragrant only once...

-Pat

[Tindomul]

Cool!!!