Orchid of interest
Coryanthes macrantha
by Rick Lockwood, OSMT member
Rick got this seedling from the Troy Meyers Conservancy about 3 years ago and it has been a pretty fast growing plant.
Growing conditions are similar for most other Stanophea types. Fairly shaded (Phalaenopsis light levels), intermediate to warm temperatures, fairly high (greater than 70 percent) humidity with good airflow. They have fairly thin leaves that are prone to water loss. I water almost daily to keep them damp. They are semi deciduous, and it’s not unusual for the pseudobulbs to drop leaves on the older growths. However, they are fast growing plants in the spring/summer.
I have my bucket orchids hanging in wooden slat baskets with sphagnum moss as substrate. In the wild, bucket orchids form relationships with ants, which will form big colonies around the roots. I’m not sure how, but ants always seem to find ways to get into the baskets of my Coryanthes, however, the macrantha seems to grow and bloom just fine without the roots completed enclosed by an ant colony.
The bud took about a month to develop, but “exploded” to complete opening in one night. It has a strong pleasant fragrance that combines antiseptic (like Listerine or an old fashioned after shave) with spices and floral qualities. The flower is pollinated by large euglosine bees (sweat bees). They males use the fluid in the bucket as an attractant for female sweat bees. But after they fall into the bucket and splash around, the only way out is through a hole at the back end of the flower. As the bee squeezes through this hole it contacts the flower column containing the pollen and stigmatic surface.
As you can see from the pictures, these are large flowers, but typical of Stanophea related species, the flowers are short lived (about 3 days).
Native: South America and the Amazon
Light: Fairly shaded.
Height: Basal pendant around 12 inches and grows as epiphyte
Habitat: Good airflow, greater than 70 percent) humidity and warmth intermediate to warm temperatures. Water almost daily to keep damp.
Photos Rick Lockwood
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