Unknown Plant

[Mr.Green61]

dear members, this plant is given me by a friend, who has a big plant of it, he even dont know the name and he dont have flower picture, can you help me to identify this plant, the stem is hallow and die after bloom

[Sandy4453]

Mr. Green, it looks very much like some sort of Schomburgkia, especially, if it has hallowed canes, in the least, heavily crossed with Schom.

[lambelkip]

i believe the hollow cane ones have been re-classified as Myrmecophilia

[orchideric]

Namaste Mr. Green,

Your plant is undoubtedly Myrmecophila (Schomburgkia) tibicinus. The name Myrmecophila means "ant lover" and in nature the hollow pseudobulbs would be inhabited by ants. Don't worry, it doesn't happen in cultivation. It is a very tough plant and is one of the few orchids that can be grown on a palm tree trunk in full sun here in Florida.

Hope that helps, Eric

[Mr.Green61]

Thank you friends, can some body teach me,how to care that plant, and what is blooming time.

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by Mr.Green61

Thank you friends, can some body teach me,how to care that plant, and what is blooming time.

Mr. Green, you can grow this like a Cattleya. It can take a lot more deprivation though than most Catts. Be sure you've got a lot of room for this one because they get huge. Like orchideric mentioned, they grow well in full sun, hanging from tree trunks but I'm not so sure this is necessarily a tibicinis. There are many, many different Schomburgkias/Myrmecophila and it will take a blooming to see what kind you've got.

Think Catt. culture for it's care. Here's a pic of my tibicinis which, may or may not be what your plant is.