Oerstedella centradenia

[Dorsetman]

Out of flower, looks like a weed ; won't stay in a pot - hence the mount, on which it is flourishing.

Has sentimental value for me, since I have seen iy growing in the wild - all the orchids I have seen in the wild have to be tried in my collection - well, not quite all , they bring back happy memories !

It grows, among other places, on a certain wooden fence, half rotten with damp, and falling down, around a copse of trees, about 5 miles from Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica - the woodland was carpeted with little pink and also yellow flowers - Impatiens species ; we call them busy lizzies in England. Arenal was erupting at the time quite a magnificent view from my hotel window, although I was not too sorry to be moving on !

[Katherine]

A sweet little flower. Geoff, I really enjoy your remembrances, you allow me to share your experiences vicariously. Thank you.

[mauraec]

Excellent! love the macro. Phillip had an Oerstedella of some kind, but I can't remember which - much smaller than your bush. Orchid hunting near an erupting volcano in Costa Rica, eh? Some people like living dangerously. I wonder if you would have been one of those fearless British Orchid Hunters of the 1800s had you lived then. Maybe more of them would have made it back to England properly....

[pavel]

Beautiful, Geoff. Yes, with their tendency to keiki constantly, keeping one potted would be a challenge to put it mildly.

[smurphr]

somehow i have managed to kill this... twice! i brought a little sprig back to life it grew a bit flowered and died... i know i was mistreating it, in fact i didnt even read up on what it really wanted... i'll try better next time cuz i do like these so much!

[orchidsal]

Love the color and form on the flowers. I can appreciate the wild growth habit and this reminds me to mount more of my orchids.............................AL

[AtantaR]

beautiful....this one has cought my eye before...very nice indeed

[nen]

Beautiful! I hope mine gets to become as 'bushy' as yours. I love this plant also as the flowers last for a long time.

[max]

What a nice plant, I can totally see how you can call this a weed when not in flower!