what is a mule ear oncidium?

[Call_Me_Bob]

what is a mule ear oncidium? is an alcra or onc. sharry baby considered mule ear?

[Oscarman]

They are oncidium species that have thick fleshy leaves. Typically I think that they are suited to high light growing environments.

Don't think that Alcra. or Onc. Sharry Baby are mule ears.

I would think that Onc. papillio and similar species are mule ears.

[PaphMadMan]

"Mule ear' has probably been applied to almost any strap leaved Oncidium (like Sharry Baby), but as far as a common name can really have any specific meaning I think it was meant to apply only to the stiff almost succulent large upright leaf types with small pseudobulbs, like Oncidium (or Trichocentrum) luridum or lanceanum. Find a good picture of one of those plants and I think you will understand the concept.

[Izzie]

My Oncidumnia Carnival Costume is what is considered a Mule Ear- it has stiff, somewhat fleshy leaves, and smaller pseudobulbs.

[Izzie]

Oncidium Twinkle- strap leaf.

Thin, pliable and strappy- you can see through these. Not through the Mule Ears.

[kavanaru]

none of the plants shown above are mule ear oncidiums. MEO has very thick leave, almost succulent, and most of them are now in the genus Trichocentrum or in the genus Lophiaris. The name come from the resemblance of the leave with mule ears (easy,no? ) something like this:



By the way, Psichopsis are not considered MEO! their leave are not thick and large enough! MEO normally have many many small flowers (well, small is relative, but never as large as single Psichopsis flowers)

good examples of MEO are:

Onc. splendidum IOSPE PHOTOS <- This is a fantastic species! I highly recommend it!
Onc. lanceanum IOSPE PHOTOS
Onc. cavendishianum IOSPE PHOTOS
Onc. aurisasinorum IOSPE PHOTOS
Onc. carthagenense http://www.orchidspecies.com/oncidiumcarthagenense.htm

[Call_Me_Bob]

thanks guys! this helped alot. i was only wondering, so that i could get the right light for my sharry baby and alcra. pacific nova

[Izzie]

Ramon- I'd be interested to hear why the Oncidumnia Carnival Costume is not considered a mule-ear. It seems to meet the criteria of the rest of the plants you posted.

eta: I did not post the Onc. twinkle as a mule ear, but as a strap leaf. Not sure if that was clear.

[ronaldhanko]

Ramon is correct. Oncidumnia Carnival Costume is a hybrid of a Tolumnia which is not a mule ear, but an equitant (completely different leaf) and a a thin-leaved Oncidium which has larger bulbs proportionally and much finer leaves than a mule-ear.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Ramon is correct. Oncidumnia Carnival Costume is a hybrid of a Tolumnia which is not a mule ear, but an equitant (completely different leaf) and a a thin-leaved Oncidium which has larger bulbs proportionally and much finer leaves than a mule-ear.

Ah, I see. I knew that it was a Tolumnia hybrid, but I think my reasoning was faulty. I was thinking that Mule Ear applied to the physical appearance of the plant, rather than depending on certain species in it's background.
Glad I got that clarified!