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Polystachya longiscapa

Discussion in 'Orchid Species' started by naoki, Mar 3, 2023.

  1. Mar 3, 2023 #1
    naoki

    naoki Well-Known Member

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    I got this plant from Afri orchids in 2019. It is an interesting species because it is one of the "early-branching" Polystachya spp., and it is a narrow endemic species. The inflorescence is kind of too long from my grow tent. Here is a link to my blog post.

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    Last edited: Mar 3, 2023
    J E, W. Malewa, ryan248 and 1 other person like this.
  2. Mar 3, 2023 #2
    Lil Duck

    Lil Duck 4 Ducks in a Trenchcoat

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    Nice!! It reminds me of the rupiculous Cattleyas from Brazil, does this occupy a similar niche??
     
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  3. Mar 3, 2023 #3
    sam1147

    sam1147 sam1147

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    :clap::clap::clap:
     
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  4. Mar 3, 2023 #4
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I understand that it grows in deep grass, so the spike needs to be long to get the flowers up where the pollinator will see them.
     
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  5. Mar 3, 2023 #5
    ryan248

    ryan248 Active Member

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    I like it!
     
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  6. Mar 3, 2023 #6
    naoki

    naoki Well-Known Member

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    Interesting point, Lil Duck. As Marni said, they are supposed to co-ocur with grasses and other plants. Here is the habitat description:

    "A lithophytic or terrestrial herb growing in clumps, on rocks in cultivated fields, rocky outcrops with grasses, Aloe spp. and Philippia spp. by rivers, along the rocky course of rapids." (Philippia spp. is Heath.)

    from: Mytnik-Ejsmont, J., SZLACHETKO, D. L., & Baranow, P. (2011). Neoburttia, a new genus for Polystachya longiscapa (Polystachyinae, Orchidaceae). Pol. Bot. J, 56(1), 45-49.

    Some of the rupicolous Cattleya make long spikes like you said (C. alvaroana, C. colnagoi etc), but others have short spikes (e.g. C. lucasiana, C. briegeri etc). Maybe the long spiked Cattleya are also with other plants, so they need to make tall spikes similar to P. longiscarpa.
     
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