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Wild orchid from the Atlantic Rainforest

Discussion in 'Orchid Identification Section' started by Octavio Salles, Dec 1, 2014.

  1. Octavio Salles

    Octavio Salles Member

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    Location:
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    Today on a walk in the forest near home I found this broken branch on the ground, with this orchid on it. I would like to know which species is this, even if just the genus, then maybe I can narrow it down to the species. This was in the island of Ilhabela, off the coast of SE Brazil at about 150 meters high or so. Judging by the size of the branch it was on, I think it was located high up in the canopy, where there's more sunlight.

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    I placed it at a better spot where other people wouldn't see it, but I took home the small piece below which had broken out of the main plant and was separated. I willl try to grow it at home, but how do you suggest the potting? I'm thinking of tying it to a pretty wide and shallow ceramic pot with bark/sphagnum mix, leaving the 2 or 3 newer bulbs outside hanging, like the plant I found in nature, and wait for the roots to attach themselves.

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  2. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    It looks like one of the miniature creeping Maxillarias.
     
  3. Octavio Salles

    Octavio Salles Member

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    It does look like some Maxillarias, but I find strange this growing in line. All Maxillarias I know grow in "clumps". And it wasn't very miniature (the plant anyways), the piece I got is about 30cm long.
     
  4. piotrm

    piotrm Well-Known Member

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    Epigeneium looks like, but wrong continent hahaha oh ;-(
     
  5. spiro K.

    spiro K. Well-Known Member

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    There are several Brazilian Bulbophyllum sps..It could be one of them!
     
  6. Ryan craig

    Ryan craig Active Member

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    to me the growth habit says bulbophyllum, that was my first thought that jumped to mind
     
  7. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Are there any New World Bulbophyllums that have 2 leaves per pseudobulb?
     
  8. Octavio Salles

    Octavio Salles Member

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    I really don't know Kelly, maybe it is a Maxillaria. Guess I'll just have to wait it to flower to be sure. A bit of an off-topic question, do you think it would be a good idea to cut off the newer pseudobulbs to vase them? I'm afraid that if I leave these bulbs hanging (like they were in nature) the plant won't have force to really catch on and grow. Perhaps if I plant the newer ones on the substrate the plant will start to grow roots and then send out other hanging pseudobulbs on its own.
     
  9. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    My opinion (not necessarily fact) is that it wants to be firmly attached to a limb and growing horizontally or growing vertically up a trunk, not hanging in air. My recommendation would be to pot it in fast draining medium or mount it with a tiny bit of moss over the roots and have all of the roots in contact with the medium or mount. If you are potting it you could gently and slowly bend it in a circle or semi-circle and pin it into the pot that way. Based on it's growth habit it may become difficult to contain in a pot. I would be very interested in knowing what it is. BTW, my first thought was Encyclia polybulbon but the range is way off. Maybe some other small Encyclia grow there?
     
  10. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    For what it's worth, Bulbophyllum pachyrachis is bifoliate and ranges from Florida through the Caribbean, Central and South America.

    It doesn't range as far as Brazil, but this could be a related species.
     
  11. DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    Wow! Good luck growing that. When it create flower, take a picture and show us all... :) happy clap clap clap...
     
  12. hasmiza.ahmad.

    hasmiza.ahmad. New Member

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    It looks like Coelogyne cumingii to me