Epidendrum conopseum

[Stefan]

wow gin!!!! such a nice little bloom, and its see through, thats awesome!! Great job!!

stefan

[nancy]

Hi Gin -
Your photo is very good, and shows the delicate nature of this apparently very tough plant. Our orchid society president, as luck would have it, is a Ph.D. in some area of plant science (horticulture?), and wrote an article on Epi. conopseum for our August newsletter. Here are some tidbits:
"This small epiphyte is the most far-ranging epiphytic orchid in the United States. It can be found growing along the Gulf Coast into western Louisiana, skipping Texas and then is found in eastern Mexico. To the east, it can be found into North Carolina. In Florida, it is found to near Lake Okeechobee. It usually grows with resurrection fern and may be found on several tree species, including live oak, eastern red cedar, bald cypress, and Southern magnolia.
Look for the Epidendrum during the dry season, because during the wet season the resurrection fern fronds are fully expanded, and in many cases cover the orchid leaves. The orchid leaves are most visible when the fern fronds are curled and dry.
The species is divided into two subspecies, ssp. magnoliae tends to be more northerly, has much smaller canes of 3 to 4 inches with 3 to 4 leaves and smaller flower counts of 3 to 12 flowers per spike. The southern variant, ssp. mexicanum, occurs in Mexico and in central to southern Florida. It has canes that can be 10 inches or more in height with 8 or 9 leaves and flower counts to 30. Most of the plants I have seen have been of the ssp. magnoliae.
The flowers become intensely fragrant at night.
There are over 111 orchid species that are native to the south central/southwest US, and all are terrestrials with one exception: This epiphyte is Epidendrum magnoliae or, as most of our members know it, Epidendrum conopseum."
When mine bloomed last year, another of our orchid society members performed a sex act upon it (he said I should do it, but - really - that is not in my area of expertise!). He has a bunch of flasks going, and thinks that the baby plantlets might be ready to be potted or mounted next spring. Conservation in action.
If my plant gets big enough, and I get ballsy enough, I will try a piece or two on some trees in the yard and see how they overwinter. I think NC has an actual winter - if they survive there, well....
Cheers - Nancy

[got ants]

Nice article Nancy. I just received my two plants friday, and have mounted them on cork. They are on the back wall of my shade house/pergola, as I believe that is the coolest area for them.

[Renee Z]

Originally Posted by got ants

I am awaiting a Green Fly in the mail as we speak.

Gin beautiful!!!!

Oh plz tell me where you purchased by mail.

I just registered on this site, have been unsuccessful finding this native thru google searces LOL

[nancy]

One of our friend's plants-in-flask has already produced buds! Though this (apparently) means that the plant itself is doomed. However, the flasked plantlets are getting pretty large, especially considering the smallness of the mature species.While I don't have the expertise (or patience) to grow from seed, it's good that others do.
The past half-dozen hurricanes have taken down many old-growth oaks, and the conopseums with them.
Hopefully in a few years we can help them come back.
Regards - Nancy

[got ants]

My Green Fly has not done well. It is the same size or smaller from when I originally got it. Oh well...

[Stringa]

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[Swamper]

Originally Posted by Stringa

Hi Gin,

I really need one bad.

"I need a fix cause I'm going down....."

[Stringa]

Hi Gin,

I have ordered a couple of these plants from Andy's orchds. Do you have any tips on caring for these plants?

David.

[nancy]

Earlier I mentioned our society member who produced seed pods on my plant, then germinated these in flask.
At our July meeting, he came bearing gifts for all! And, being the perfect man, he mounted each on a magnolia stick and put a wire hanger on it as well. These look healthy and just raring to go!
Enjoy - Nancy