Read more of Cultivation of Oeoniella polystachys (Thouars) Schltr.
Light:
2500-3500 fc. Moderately bright light should be dappled or diffused, and full, direct, midday sun. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperatures:
Summer days average 85-86F (30C), and nights average 73-74F (23C), with a diurnal range of 12F (7C). Hillerman and Holst (1986) report that this orchid grows well in the intermediate house but indicate that it would probably grow even better under warm conditions.
Humidity:
Near 85% most of the year, dropping to near 80% for 2-3 months in spring.
Water:
Rainfall is very heavy most of the year. Amounts decrease somewhat for a month or so in spring, but the habitat is never truly dry. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but conditions around the roots should never become stale or soggy.
Fertilizer:
1/4–1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Many growers use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year, but others prefer to use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer switching to a high-phosphate formula in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Growing conditions should be maintained all year. Plants grown in the dark, short-day conditions common in temperate latitude winters need less water, but they should never dry out completely. Fertilizer should be reduced if water is reduced.
Growing media:
Hillerman and Holst (1986) reported that Oeoniella polystachys plants are usually grown mounted on 4 X 12 in. (10 X 30 cm) slabs with a small pad of moss at their base. Mounted plants need high humidity and at least one watering a day, however, and during hot, dry weather, they may require several waterings a day. This plant also grows well in a well-drained 4-6 in. (10-15 cm) pot filled with a very open, fast-draining medium. Most growers use medium-to-coarse fir bark or shredded tree-fern fiber and add chunky perlite to help keep the medium open and also retain some moisture. Including charcoal in the mix helps hold the medium open and helps prevent souring. Plants should be repotted immediately if the medium starts to break down. Repotting is best done just as new roots start to grow.
Notes:
In the habitat, these plants flower from early spring into autumn.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
Genus Oeoniella
Oeoniella polystachys (Thouars) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 177 (1918).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum polystachyum (Thouars) A.Rich., Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. 4: 66 (1818).
Epidendrum polystachys Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: t. 82 (1822).
Aeranthes polystachya (Thouars) Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers, Ann. Bot. Syst. 6: 901 (1864).
Listrostachys polystachys (Thouars) Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers, Ann. Bot. Syst. 6: 909 (1864).
Beclardia polystachya (Thouars) Frapp., Orch. Reun. Cat. Esp. Ind.: 12 (1880).
Oeonia polystachya (Thouars) Benth. & Hook.f., Gen. Pl. 3: 584 (1883).
Angorchis polystachya (Thouars) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 651 (1891).
Epidorkis polystachya (Thouars) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 659 (1891).
Monixus polystachys (Thouars) Finet, Mém. Soc. Bot. France 9: 18 (1907).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Macradenia polystachya Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 726 (1826).
Angraecum pescatorianum Lindl., J. Hort. Soc. London 4: 263 (1849).
Listrostachys pescatoriana (Lindl.) S.Moore in J.G.Baker, Fl. Mauritius: 254 (1877).
Angraecum kimballianum auct., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 2(App.): 38 (1890).
Description:
An erect, somewhat vinelike, 24 in. (60 cm) epiphyte. Pseudobulb/stems: 3-24 in. (7-60 cm) long by about 0.2 in. (0.5-0.6 cm) wide. Stems are usually shorter than 24 in. (60 cm). The rigidly erect stems produce numerous branches. The older parts of the stems are semiwoody and produce roots along most of the stem to within 2-4 in. (5-10 cm) of the apex. Roots are 0.1 in. (0.2-0.3 cm) in diameter. Stems are densely leafy along their length and covered by tight-fitting, overlapping leaf sheaths. Hillerman and Holst (1986) reported, "Plants of Oeoniella polystachys are 10-30 cm tall and can be prevented from growing pendent and straggly by judicious pruning." Leaves: 1-2 in. (2.5-5.0 cm) long by 0.5 in. (1.2 cm) wide. Cultivated plants may have leaves that are 2-4 in. (5-11 cm) long by 0.6-0.8 in. (1.5-2.0 cm) wide. The spreading, closely spaced, fleshy, oblong leaves are alternately arranged in two rows along the stem. Inflorescence: 6-10 in. (15-25 cm) long. Flower spikes are usually erect to arching but may be horizontal to suberect. Inflorescences emerge along the stem at the axils of leaf sheaths. On well-grown plants, a single stem may produce 5-7 inflorescences at the same time. Each flower is carried on a pedicellate ovary that is about 0.3 in. (0.8 cm) long. Flowers: 12-15. The lacy, very dainty blossoms may be white to off-white, becoming greenish toward the base of the sepals and petals. They are fragrant during the early evening and last for 3-4 weeks, sometimes even longer. Flowers, which are 0.8-1.6 in. (2-4 cm) across, are usually held with the lip uppermost. The narrowly linear-lanceolate sepals are 0.5-0.6 in. (1.2-1.6 cm) long with sharply pointed tips. The narrowly linear petals, which are also sharply pointed, may be a little shorter than the sepals. The 3-lobed, trumpet-shaped lip is about 0.6 in. (1.6 cm) long. The broad lateral lobes have scalloped margins and curve to form a tube around the column. The midlobe is narrowly linear to threadlike with a long-tapering, sharply pointed tip. The spur at the base of the lip tapers toward the tip and is about 0.2 in. (0.6 cm) long. The very short column is wider than it is long.
Habitat:
This orchid grows on trees in the hot lowlands of eastern Madagascar and in the Sambirano Valley in the northwestern Madagascar. HIllerman and Holst (1986) reported, "In nature the species is very strong-growing, and its stems and root system surround the tree trunk and branches on which it perches. The plant is usually found on trees whose branches admit filtered sunlight, often on isolated trees in close proximity to the seashore, where there is high humidity and considerable warmth."
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Oeoniella polystachys (Thouars) Schltr.
Distribution:
W. Indian Ocean
References:
Bechtel, H., P. Cribb, and E. Launert. 1980. Manual of cultivated orchid species. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. De la Bathie, H., and H. Humbert. [1939, 1941] 1981. Flora of Madagascar. vols. I-II. The Government of Madagascar and the National Museum of Natural History, Paris. Translated and published in 1 vol., Steven D. Beckman, 621 Palm Ave., Lodi, CA, U.S.A. 95240. Hamilton, R. 1988. When does it flower? 2nd ed. Robert M. Hamilton, 9211 Beckwith Road, Richmond, B.C., Canada V6X 1V7. Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore. WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 10.03-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Photos/drawings:
Bechtel, H., P. Cribb, and E. Launert. 1980. Manual of cultivated orchid species. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. (Photo) De la Bathie, H., and H. Humbert. [1939, 1941] 1981. Flora of Madagascar. vols. I-II. The Government of Madagascar and the National Museum of Natural History, Paris. Translated and published in 1 vol., Steven D. Beckman, 621 Palm Ave., Lodi, CA, U.S.A. 95240. (Drawing) Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore. (Photo)
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission. |
| In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture |
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| Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. |
Oeoniella aphrodite (Balf.f. & S.Moore) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 177 (1918).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Listrostachys aphrodite Balf.f. & S.Moore in J.G.Baker, Fl. Mauritius: 354 (1877).
Description:
Plant erect with elongated stems, 10-30 cm long, bearing many leaves above branching aerial roots. Leaves in 2 rows, linear-oblong or ligulate unequally bilobed at the apex, 10-15 cm Iong 8-12 mm wide. Inflorescences one to several, erect arising opposite the leaf base, 6-20 cm long, elongating in fruit, 10-- to 16 flowered. Flowers white or pale green with white lip; sepals lanceolate, acuminate, - mm long; petals shorter, linear, acute; lip ovate-orbicular, 3-lobed, lateral lobes crenulate, embracing the column, mid-lobe narrowly linear, 4 mm long; spur, straight or curved, not inflated, 3-5 mm long.
Habitat:
Lithophyte, usually in shade; sea level, flowering in June in Seychelles.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Notes:
Differs from Oeoniella polystachys by the smaller plant and the shorter mid lobe to the lip.
Distribution:
Seychelles to Mascarenes
References:
WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 10.03-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture |
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| Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
