This is a very interesting section of Maxillaria , called I think "The Horse Maxillarias" which seem to behave more like monopodials than the sympodial form which is basic to the genus. I had a less attractive one, grew to be two feet tall or more, and kept producing flowers from the leaf axils, but my flowers were a dirty yellow colour unlike these here, so eventually I got bored and junked the plant. In fact I think I only kept it as long as I did - maybe 5 years or so - because no one could identify it. I think Robert L Dressler ( of "A Field Guide to the Orchids of Panama etc " among other works, has written about this group, and it was from his writings that I got an identification down to the group - but not to species level.

But what superb culture !