Oncidium alexandrae

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Oncidium alexandrae
Odontoglossum crispum.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Oncidium
Species:
O. alexandrae
Binomial name
Oncidium alexandrae
(Bateman) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Odontoglossum alexandraeBateman
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. cooksoniiB.S.Williams & T.Moore
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. flaveolum(Rchb.f.) B.S.Williams & T.Moore
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. giganteumF.Buyss.
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. guttatumHook.f.
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. outramiiB.S.Williams
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. stevensiiB.S.Williams & T.Moore
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. trianaeHook.f.
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. warneriF.Buyss.
  • Odontoglossum alexandrae var. wilsoniiB.S.Williams
  • Odontoglossum bluntiiRchb.f.
  • Odontoglossum crispumLindl.
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. bluntii(Rchb.f.) Stein
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. chestertoniiA.H.Kent
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. flaveolumRchb.f.
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. hyperxanthumRchb.f.
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. latranumBosschere
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. lehmanniiRchb.f.
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. lyntanthumF.Lehm.
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. plumatumB.S.Williams
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. reginaeF.A.Philbrick
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. trianae(Hook.f.) L.Linden & Rodigas
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. wolstenholmiaeRchb.f.
  • Odontoglossum crispum var. wrigleyanumB.S.Williams
  • Odontoglossum edithiaeR.Warner
  • Odontoglossum latimaculatumLinden
  • Odontoglossum reichenbachianumF.Lehm.
  • Odontoglossum warocqueanumLinden & L.Linden

Oncidium alexandrae, synonyms including Odontoglossum crispum, is an epiphytic orchid in the genus Oncidium . [1] Known as the curled odontoglossum, it is considered by many to be the most beautiful orchid of all but is also one of the most difficult to grow. [2]

Contents

Description

Oncidium alexandrae has an ovoid pseudobulb, between 8 and 10 cm (3 and 4 in) long, from the apex of which emerge two soft-textured, erect to arching, linear to strap shaped or lanceolate leaves. The leaves are sharply pointed at the tip and narrowed below where they are longitudinally folded along the mid-vein at the base to form a long, narrow, petiole-like stem. [3]

The gracefully arching flower spike, which can be up to 51 cm (20 in) long, emerges from the base of a recently matured pseudobulb along the centre-line of the upper basal sheath. Flowers are closely spaced in a raceme on the upper part of the flower spike, but there are often two or three lateral branches at the base of the raceme. Each flower is carried on a pedicellate ovary that is up to 23 mm (0.9 in) long. [3]

There are between 6 and 24 flowers on each inflorescence. The blossoms are the most variable in the genus in terms of size, colour and degree of crimpling along the segment margins. [3] The flowers are mostly white or pale rose, sometimes more or less spotted and blotched with brownish or reddish brown. The callus at the base of the lip is yellow and is often marked with red lines. The widely spread, flat-opening flowers are 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) across with very wide sepals that are elliptic, have sharply pointed tips, often overlap and are variously crisped or wavy-margined or toothed and notched along the margins. The dorsal sepal is lanceolate to egg-shaped, undulate on the margin and 30 to 51 mm (1.2 to 2.0 in) long by 13 to 23 mm (0.5 to 0.9 in) wide. The obliquely spreading lateral sepals are similar in size to the dorsal sepal. The horizontally spreading petals are egg-shaped to elliptic or oblong elliptic, 30 to 46 mm (1.2 to 1.8 in) long by 18 to 38 mm (0.7 to 1.5 in) wide, and have margins that are wavy and fairly deeply notched or toothed. The lip is oblong or somewhat fiddle-shaped. It is 20 to 30 mm (0.8 to 1.2 in) long by 13 to 15 mm (0.5 to 0.6 in) wide, has toothed margins and is rather sharply pointed at the apex. The callus is fleshy with a pair of diverging lobes at the apex. The slender, slightly arching column is 15 to 18 mm (0.6 to 0.7 in) long and has a pair of broad wings with fringed margins toward the apex. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was first described by John Lindley in 1845 as Odontoglossum crispum. Independently, Bateman described Odontoglossum alexandrae, naming it after the then Princess of Wales, Alexandra of Denmark. [4] The two are now considered synonyms. [1] In 2008, the species was transferred to the genus Oncidium. [1] The name Oncidium crispum had already been used in 1833 for a different species, [5] so Bateman's epithet had to be used for the combination, producing the name Oncidium alexandrae.

Varieties and hybrids

Oncidium alexandrae shows many variations ranging from pure white to yellow to rose, including various highly spotted flowers. In the 1901 edition of his Orchid Guide, Sander described 108 varieties under the synonym Odontoglossum crispum and 27 natural hybrids having the species as a possible parent. [4] No botanical varieties were accepted by Plants of the World Online as of August 2023. [1]

Natural hybrids include:

Distribution and habitat

Oncidium alexandrae is found in the montane forest of Colombia, at altitudes of between 1,800 metres (6,000 ft) and 3,000 metres (10,000 ft), including in the eastern Cordillera in the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá and in the Andes of southern Colombia in the departments of Cauca, Putumayato and Nariño. [3]

The plants grow as epiphytes in clearings and along forest edges. [3] They grow chiefly on the trunks and main branches of oak trees in partial shade and occasionally full sun. [4]

Throughout the year, days average 19–21 °C (66–70 °F) and nights average 10–12 °C (50–54 °F), with a diurnal range of 9–11 °C (16–20 °F). Rainfall is light to moderate throughout the year, but there is no actual dry season. In addition, more moisture is available from heavy dew and mist. Humidity is 70–75% throughout the year. [3]

Oncidium alexandrae comes in an array of shapes, colours, and shades, from pure white to flush pink. [4] The variability of the flower is associated with discrete areas; in the Pacho area (30 miles north of Bogota) are found the finest varieties, full round pure white and spotted flowers with broad overlapping sepals and petals; in the Vélez area (further north) the flowers are similar but shaded rose; south of Bogota, in the Fusagasugá region (25 miles south of Bogota), the white mauve tinted stellate flowers; while in Nariño, a variant is found which bears up to 80 small flowers on a branched inflorescence. [4]

Discovery and introduction to Europe

The species was discovered in 1841 by Karl Theodor Hartweg, [4] in the high Andes Mountains, near Pacho in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia, during one of his plant collecting expeditions for the Royal Horticultural Society. It was named Odontoglossum crispum by John Lindley in 1945, crispum being a reference to the crisped edges of the flower. [4]

None of the plants shipped from the 1841 expedition survived the trip back to England, and it was not until 1863 that the plant first flowered in England, [4] once growers had been able to re-create the cool natural habitat of these "alpine" plants. English growers had initially believed that the Colombian tropics were hot and steaming jungles and tried to grow the plant in the hot-houses favoured by Victorian horticulturists. It was not until growers found how to lower the temperature of their glasshouses, by running water on the outside of the glass panels and having water dripping in front of the open sides to cool down the air, that the plant was able to survive and flower in England. [4]

As orchid mania reached its height, several London orchid houses, including Rollisson of Tooting, Veitch of Chelsea, and Low of Clapton, sent out plant collectors to bring back samples of the species. Amongst the Veitch collectors were David Bowman, who successfully located it in Colombia in 1867, [10] Henry Chesterton who discovered a variety that has been called var. chestertonii (named after him) in the late 1870s, [11] Guillermo Kalbreyer, who in June 1881 "sent home a collection of Orchids, consisting principally of O. crispum", [12] and David Burke, who collected in Colombia from 1894 to 1896. [13]

In his book, About Orchids – A Chat published in 1893, Frederick Boyle describes the "harvesting" of the species from Colombia. The collector would make Bogotá his headquarters from where he would need to travel "about ten days to the southward" by mule. On reaching his destination, he would "hire a wood; that is, a track of mountain clothed more or less with timber" from a tribal chief. He would then hire "natives, twenty or fifty or a hundred, as circumstances advise" and set them to cut down all the trees. In the meantime, the collector would build "a wooden stage of sufficient length to bear the plunder expected" where he would clean, sort and dry the orchids. Each tree would produce between three and five usable specimens. He goes on to explain:

"It is a terribly wasteful process. If we estimate that a good tree has been felled for every three scraps of Odontoglossum which are now established in Europe, that will be no exaggeration. And for many years past they have been arriving by hundreds of thousands annually! But there is no alternative. A European cannot explore that green wilderness overhead; if he could, his accumulations would be so slow and costly as to raise the proceeds to an impossible figure. The natives will not climb, and they would tear the plants to bits. Timber has no value in those parts as yet, but the day approaches when Government must interfere." [14]

Oncidium alexandrae (as Odontoglossum crispum) appears frequently in the illustrations of John Day in his scrapbooks – 40 times between 1865 and 1887. The species was highly sought after in Victorian times, both for the diversity of its flower colour and as a cool-growing species that could be successfully cultivated. By 1889, cultivated varieties were sold for more than 150 guineas at auction. [15]

Cultivation

Oncidium alexandrae thrives in cool, well watered, humid conditions, with medium to heavy shade. [16] The plants grow best in a cool marine climate, such as the California fog belt or the Pacific Northwest. Elsewhere, high daytime temperatures enfeeble and destroy it, unless air-conditioning is available. [2]

The species has been regularly used in hybridization, as it promotes flowers of good size and shape. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Oncidium</i> Genus of orchids

Oncidium, abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). As presently conceived, it is distributed across much of South America, Central America, Mexico and the West Indies, with one species (O. ensatum) extending into Florida. Common names for plants in this genus include dancing-lady orchid and golden shower orchid.

<i>Brassia</i> Genus of orchids

Brassia is a genus of orchids classified in the subtribe Oncidiinae. It is native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America, with one species extending into Florida.

<i>Miltonia</i> Genus of orchids

Miltonia, abbreviated Milt. in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus comprising twelve epiphyte species and eight natural hybrids. The miltonias are exclusively inhabitants of Brazil, except for one species whose range extends from Brazil into the northeast of Argentina and the east of Paraguay.

Odontoglossum, first named in 1816 by Karl Sigismund Kunth, is a formerly accepted genus of orchids that is now regarded as a synonym of Oncidium. Several hundred species have previously been placed in Odontoglossum. The scientific name of the genus is derived from the Greek words odon (tooth) and glossa (tongue), referring to the two tooth-like calluses on the base of the lip. Species formerly placed in this genus are cool to cold growing orchids to be found on open spots in the humid cloud forest at higher elevations from Central- and West South America to Guyana, with most species around the northern Andes. The abbreviation for this genus is Odm. in the horticultural trade. Many of the species formerly placed in the genus are in great demand with orchid lovers because of their spectacular and flamboyant flowers.

<i>Cyrtochiloides</i> Genus of orchids

Cyrtochiloides, a genus of orchids described in 2001 by Norris H. Williams and Mark W. Chase, is designed to provide a small group of Neotropical epiphytes, previously included under a broad concept of Oncidium Sw., with a new, more accurate identity based on DNA.

<i>Tolumnia</i> (plant) Genus of orchids

Tolumnia, is a genus in the family Orchidaceae. Previously known as the "equitant oncidiums," the species were segregated from the mega-genus Oncidium by Guido Braem in 1986. Dancing-lady orchid is a common name for some species in this genus.

<i>Miltoniopsis vexillaria</i> Species of orchid

Miltoniopsis vexillaria is a species of epiphytic orchid in the genus Miltoniopsis.

Wilhelm (Guillermo) Kalbreyer (1847–1912) was a German plant collector who was sent by James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, London to collect new plants in West Africa and South America.

<i>Oncidium blandum</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium blandum, synonym Odontoglossum blandum, is a species of orchid native to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It is known as the charming odontoglossum.

<i>Oncidium constrictum</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium constrictum, synonym Odontoglossum constrictum, is a species of orchid found from Colombia to northern Venezuela.

<i>Oncidium crocidipterum</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium crocidipterum, synonym Odontoglossum crocidipterum, is a species of orchid found in Peru, Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Known as saffron-yellow two-winged odontoglossum, the species is generally found at elevations of 2,200 to 2,750 m. As of August 2023, no subspecies are accepted by Plants of the World Online.

<i>Oncidium cruentoides</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium cruentoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to Ecuador and Peru. It was first described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1873 as Odontoglossum cruentum. When transferred to Oncidium in 2008, the epithet cruentum could not be used because it had already been published for a different species, so the replacement name O. cruentoides was used.

<i>Oncidium gloriosum</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium gloriosum, synonym Odontoglossum gloriosum, is a species of orchid native to Colombia and Venezuela. It is known as the glorious odontoglossum.

<i>Oncidium lindleyoides</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium lindleyoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. It was first described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1854 as Odontoglossum lindleyanum. When transferred to Oncidium in 2008, the epithet lindleyanum could not be used because it had already been published for a different species, so the replacement name O. lindleyoides was used.

<i>Oncidium nobile</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium nobile, synonym Odontoglossum nobile, is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia. It is known as the grand odontoglossum.

<i>Oncidium praenitens</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium praenitens is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, endemic to Colombia. It was first described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1875 as Odontoglossum praenitens.

<i>Oncidium praestanoides</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium praestanoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It was first described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach and Josef Ritter Warszewicz in 1854 as Odontoglossum praestans. When transferred to Oncidium in 2008, the epithet praestans could not be used because it had already been published for a different species, so the replacement name O. praestanoides was used.

<i>Oncidium spectatissimum</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium spectatissimum is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. It was first described by John Lindley in 1852 as Odontoglossum spectatissimum.

<i>Oncidium tripudians</i> Species of orchid

Oncidium tripudians is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, endemic to Colombia. It was first described in 1852 as Odontoglossum spectatissimum.

<i>Gomesa</i> Genus of orchids

Gomesa is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains about 80–100 species, all native to South America. The genus is abbreviated as Gom.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Oncidium alexandrae (Bateman) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 "The Oncidium Alliance Orchids – Odontoglossum crispum". herbs2000.com. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Margaret L. Baker & Charles O. Baker (2006). Orchid Species Culture: Oncidium/Odontoglossum Alliance. Timber Press. pp. 403–404. ISBN   0-88192-775-9.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Yves Aubry (April 2003). "Odontoglossum Crispum: An Almost Vanished Species With a Great Legacy" (PDF). The Orchid Enthusiast. Central New York Orchid Society. pp. 8–11. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Oncidium crispum G.Lodd. ex Lindl." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Oncidium × andersonianum (Rchb.f.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Oncidium × coradinei (Rchb.f.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Oncidium × marriottianum (Rchb.f.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Oncidium × wilckeanum (Rchb.f.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  10. ↑ Sue Shephard (2003). Seeds of Fortune – A Gardening Dynasty. Bloomsbury. p. 164. ISBN   0-7475-6066-8.
  11. ↑ James Herbert Veitch (2006). Hortus Veitchii (reprint ed.). Caradoc Doy. p. 60. ISBN   0-9553515-0-2.
  12. ↑ Hortus Veitchii . p. 72.
  13. ↑ Hortus Veitchii . p. 88.
  14. ↑ "About Orchids – A Chat by Frederick Boyle (1893)". Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  15. ↑ "John Day's Orchids: Odontoglossum crispum". Kew Gardens . Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  16. ↑ "Odontoglossum crispum Lindley 1845". The Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia. orchidspecies.com. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
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