Phrag. caudatum--first bloom

[LJA]

This is caudatum v. warscewiczianum 'Dark Tower' X self. It had opened in a "forgotten" corner of the greenhouse where the flower had been turned the other way so you couldn't see it. I just noticed it open an hour ago when we finished watering...

Petals are just under 25 inches long.

[LJA]

A little closer so you can see the spiral curl of the petals....

[Paphraguy]

Wow, that's a beauty! Mine bloomed last year at only 6 inches in LS. They do bloom young and small.

I like your Tower of Pots LOL

Phragmipedium warscewiczianum is my all time time favorite long petalled Phrag species. Louis, you should re-lable your plant, they are no longer caudatums but their own species now.

Thanks for sharing and your pics are getting better and better!

[LJA]

Louis, you should re-lable your plant, they are no longer caudatums but their own species now.

You're absolutely right. Thanks for reminding me! I forgot all about that when I posted; just hum-dinging along....

LOL! "Tower of Pots".....

Pics are still hit and miss, but thanks. It's very overcast today but I still wanted to get a pic of this guy on here....

[Paphraguy]

What is the leafspan and how many growths? Just curious.

[LJA]

Peter, the longest leafspan is about 12 inches tip to tip, and the plant has three growths: two older, and a new one.

I imagine it would have bloomed a lot sooner had I placed it in a more brightly lit spot.

My bad....

[Paphraguy]

Yes, they do need very bright light to bloom. Grow it in bright light and next time it may have multiple blooms simultaneously.

[Heather]

Okay, so I've been reading about the evolution aspect of these things. I understand the pouch, and the insects going in to get the nectar and pollinate and all, but WHY on earth the 25" long petals? Who exactly does that attract (except us humans!)

Can anyone shed light on that? Maybe this is better for another forum...

[Paphraguy]

Heather,

Nobody knows why the blooms have such long petals. Some speculate that they act as ladders for insects to crawl up to pollinate the blooms but I disagree to that because in the wild most grow on open sunny hillsides and some even on tree tops with their long dangling petals high up in the wind, so there is no way the insects are using them as ladders.

I think the long petals evolved to attract one particular curious species- HUMANOIDS!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Heather,

That is how the ants reach the flower. They are "ant ramps". I have heard that they will continue to grow until they touch the ground or some surface. Kewl huh?

Cheers!
Brutal_Dreamer