Aspasia silvana F. Barros 1988 Photo courtesy of Patricia Harding

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Common Name The Forest Growing Aspasia

Flower Size 3 1/4" [8 cm]

Found in the Atlantic forest of Bahia, Espirito Santo and Rio de Janiero states, in mountainous rain or cloud forests at elevations of 200 and up to 700 meters, in shaded and humid places as a small to just medium sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with ovoid, laterally compressed, stiptate, smooth pseudobulbs enveloped basally by 3 to 4 lateral sheaths and carries 2 apical, elliptical to oblong-ovate, acute leaves and has a single flowered inflorescence that arises from the axillary leaf sheaths and has triangular floral bracts and a very showy wide spread flower

This species grows best with high air humidity, but it doesn't tolerate damp roots, they will rot if kept too wet. After flowering in the spring and early summer a short 1 to 2 month rest is beneficial, resume watering and fertilizer with the onset of new growth and flowers best if given very cramped quarters in a small pot. This plant is similar to A lunata but is 3 times larger.

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Dodson 1994; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 33 - 36 2057 - 2308 Brieger 1997 photo fide; Icones Orchidacearum Brasilenses Vol I Plate 001 Castro & Campacci 2000 drawing fide; Flora's Orchids Nash & La Croix 2005; Orchid Species Culture: Oncidium, Bakers 2006; Orchids of Tropical America an introduction and guide Meisel 2014 photo fide;

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