Zootrophion atropurpureum - Orchid Board

Tindomul · #1 11-04-2016, 02:49 PM

Hello all,

I have this surprise orchid today. Well I had been seeing this flower for a long time now. I'm not even sure how long I've been staring at it. Maybe 1 or 2 weeks.

I didn't know that this was the flower!!!!!!

I thought it was some kind of dead pseudobulb from a Bulbophyllum or something. So I reached in to see if I could squish it, twist or pull it out somehow. When I touched it, and when it cracked under the pressure of my thumb and forefinger, I realized it was hollow inside. I took a closer look and my mental compendium of images came up with a match. Geese, am I embarrassed.

This is Zootrophion atropurpureum. This is the FIRST blooming for me with this species. Its ugly. I didn't expect that. Maybe it will look better in the future. At least the leaves are interesting to me.

I grow this in a terrarium and as you might see, its near my Platystele. I thought it wasn't doing so well in here and I made a cutting a few months back and spread it to another tank. It's growing better over there. Maybe what threw me off was the expectation that this cutting was dying on me.

Zootrophion atropurpureum-01 by César, on Flickr

Zootrophion atropurpureum-02 by César, on Flickr

Pattywack · #2 11-04-2016, 06:35 PM

I'm sorry, that's hysterical! It must have been a shock for you, I'm still laughing. I have a Zootrophion griffin I recently bought and it has the same ugly bloom, little different color. The flower is said to resemble the head of a griffin. Too bad you pulled yours off! Maybe it will give you another flower.

I can't really tell what your plant looks like in your gorgeous jungle but it seems to grow differently than the griffin. I actually thought the blooms were very unique and I like the way my plant grows. Live and learn, lol.

charlesf6 · #3 11-04-2016, 06:36 PM

Ah cut it some slack.

At least it is nice and healthy and it isn't all
that bad looking either.

Tindomul · #4 11-04-2016, 07:12 PM

Oh I didn't get to pull it off, it survived the experience. THough I don't know if this flower is tired or fresh or somewhere inbetween.

And yea it was quite the surprise. I still think it belongs in an orchid side-show. LOL.

Pattywack · #5 11-04-2016, 07:21 PM

Oh good you didn't pull it off. They are strange looking and ya, side-show is a good description. Now I'm looking for a different one, not the easiest orchids to find.