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The Cycnoches Story
Cycnoches
A lovely genus that has been mostly neglected by American growers. The plants have heavy, woody pseudobulbs. The graceful foliage is frequently shed in the winter. In fact, flowering is such a strain on the plant that the old bulb often gives all its strength to the new growth, and then shrivels and dies. An injudicious use of water is disastrous. The plant produces large, handsome flowers whose shape has earned for it the graceful name ‘swan’s neck orchid.’ The flowers are so unusual and beautiful that they are worth any amount of labor involved in encouraging them to bloom. According to Lindley, C. ventricosum produces male, female, and neuter flowers in the same scape.
For the advanced grower.
The Masdevailia Story
Masdevailia lata
Masdevailia is a large genus that is remarkable principally for the weird and fantastic shape taken by its flowers. It is native to tropical America. It is sympodial and both terrestrial and epiphytic. Its creeping rhizome and shiny leaves take the place of pseudobulbs. The flowers resemble unearthly insects, with long, tapering, curled sepals and a tubular or contorted lip, which is most frequently white.
An intermediate house will serve.
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