Ansellia africana first bloom

[stefpix]

Do you know what Ficus? I collect those as well, if you see some fallen figs / seeds I'd be interested!. Did you notice differences between those growing in full sun and shadesd? are different varieties in appearance? I saw Myrmecophilas in full sun, usually collected and placed for landscaping but they looked orange and baked. would be nice if you could document and post photos of Orchids and Ficus in habitat. what country? Kenya? Well teh problem is that inside an apartment it is very dark. But I walked in the jungle in the Yucatan peninsula and I saw rat tail oncidiums blooming in what was very shaded by the canopy and it was 2 pm! and it was March so I believe there the forest is not deciduous.
Maybe you can find a flask in Africa of some Ansellia?

[Bud]

Beautiful flowers. It looks like a Gramm. at first glance but when I saw the full plant it is definitely the africana....
Good Growing !

*but as for the last two pictures: what is the deal with the chilli plant and the last one what is is?

[stefpix]

last is a Coccoloba uvifera I started from seed. It can take everything, flood, salt, drought.

Gramm., Cyrtopodium, Ansellia are all in the same subtribe after all.

[ASP]

Yes in Kenya, they are the sycamore fig - Ficus sycomorus? I think they are widely cultivated so you probably have it.
Shaded ones more compact growing, very green and leafy.
The exposed ones have more wrinkled canes, Very yellow and leggy with fewer more leathery leaves. "Baked" is the word to describe it perfectly!
The Kenyan variety is supposed to have a greener rather than yellow background but to be honest I remember them to be yellow. Maybe from the ground they looked yellow with the light behind them or the green is localised or from a higher altitude?
I will have my camera at the ready, especially as I hope to spot Vanilla polylepis which I have a cutting of. My cutting is a green stick and has been ever since I got it. I have put it on a heat mat in the hope that my green stick might grow a leaf! My other African vanillas are doing well so fingers crossed...
It would be great to find a kenyan Ansellia flask but I think the chances are pretty slim.

[isurus79]

That Ansellia is really well grown and has great flowers! Congratulations and great growing!!

[Leisurely]

This plant will also survive quite nicely with temperatures in the mid thirties if kept dry. Generally, when grown in full sun they will develop a "birds nest" root system wherein the roots grow erect. The plant can be very interesting looking with a mass of roots growing straight up into the air.

[stefpix]

Thanks Jerry -

I am wondering if there are different subspecies that grow in different environments with different drought and temperature tolerance.

Mine stopped developing the bird's nest in full sun. I heard they develop that when lacking Nitrogen.

At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden 2 are in display. One has skinnier pseudobulbs and no bird's nest but it has developed seed pods (wonder if self fertile without pollinator), the other one has larger, stouter pseudobulbs, more (and nicer) flowers and bird's nest and they grow more or less in the same spot.

I'd like to get a bird's nest but I wonder if I have enough humidity here all year round.

[Leisurely]

Stefano, I believe that the bird's nest characteristic is achieved in drier environment. I see one in my area growing, in full sun, hanging on a lamp post, on the sidewalk, where it gets very hot.

[stefpix]

Jerry, full sun, but what is the relative humidity there in central FL? do you have a photo of the one on teh lamp post? does it get protected in the eventuality of freezing spells?

[Leisurely]

Sorry Stefano, no photo. I am sure that during a freeze warning they either protect it or take it inside. The humidity during our rainy season is very high but during the dry season, which is about October to May, it can be extremely dry. In late winter through spring, twenty percent is not uncommon.

And I will not totally disagree with you, the bird's nest root system could be indicative of a particular form.