Rhynchostele rossii (Lindley) Soto Arenas & Salazar 1993 Photo by © Pieter C. Brouwer and his Nature Photo Website

Another Flower Photo courtesy of Oak Hill Gardens

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Common Name Ross' Rhynchostele [English Orchid Collector in Mexico 1800's]

Flower Size to 3" [5 to 8 cm]

This is a cold to cool growing, miniature epiphytic species from the humid Nicaraguan, Honduran, Salvadorean, Guatemalan and Mexican cloud forests where it is found at elevations of 2000-3000 meters, with ovoid to subspherical pseudobulbs partially enveloped basally by 2 conduplicate, acute sheaths and carrying a single, apical, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute, basally clasping leaf that blooms in the winter till spring on a newly matured growth with a arcuate to pendant, to 8" [6 to 20 cm] long, laxly few [up to 4] flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, acuminate bracts and is an evergreen miniature plant that requires even watering, medium shade and fertilizer throughout the year and cool temperatures through the summer.

Synonyms Cymbiglossum rossii (Halb.) Halb. 1983; Lemboglossum rossii[Lindley]Halbinger 1984; Odontoglossum aspersum Rchb.f 1879; Odontoglossum aspersum var. fulvidum John Fraser 1894; Odontoglossum caerulescens A. Rich & Galeottia 1845; Odontoglossum coerulescens A. Rich & Gale. 1845; Odontoglossum humeanum Rchb.f; *Odontoglossum rossii Lindley 1838; Odontoglossum rubescens Lindley 1850; Odontoglossum warnerianum Rchb. f. 1864; Odontoglossum youngii Gower 1890; Oncidium caerulescens (A.Rich. & Galeotti) Beer 1854; Oncidium coerulescens Beer 1855; Rhynchostele aspersa (Rchb.f.) Soto Arenas & Salazar 1993

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Las Orquedias de El Salvador Vol 3 Hamer 1981 as Odontoglossum rossii; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum Plate 1012 Dodson 1984 as Cymbiglossum rossii; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 1012a Dodson 1985 as Lemboglossum rossi; Orchid Species Culture: Oncidium-Odontoglossum alliance Bakers 2006; The Pictoral Encyclopedia of Oncidium Zelenko 2002; Icones Orchidacearum 5 - 6 Orchids of Mexico Part 2 - 3 Plate 658 Hagsater & Soto 2002

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