Commonly called Yellow Tulip Orchid the Anguloa (an-gyew-LOH-ah) orchid is absolutely stunning. It is related to the Lycaste orchid from Central America and like all orchids, has three petals and three sepals. Although the dominant color is a bright yummy yellow, other hydrids can feature a soft rose and white mix.

The Anguloa Uniflora, also called the boat orchid, has a large creamy white waxy flower and the thick pseudobulbs have thin pleated leaves. The gloriously fragrant blooms emerge from the base of the bulbs in late spring and bloom through summer. It’s exciting to watch them emerge and bloom into striking flowers that you will make you sigh with pleasure.

The abbreviation of the Anguloa orchid is Ang. and it was named for Don Francisco de Angulo who was a contemporary Peruvian Director – General of Mines at the end of the 18th century. His hobby was collecting orchids while he assisted botanists. First described by Jose Antonio Pavon and Hipolito Ruiz Lopez in 1798, this genus (type) of orchid is found on the forest floor from Columbia, Venezuela, and from Ecuador to Peru. There are only nine species of this spectacular orchid and four natural hybrids which might eventually evolve into other hybrids down the line. Other hybrids have been bred by horticulturists but have not occurred in the wild.

They are large terrestrials and some of then have fleshy pseudobulbs that are longer than seven inches. The long deciduous leaves of a full grown plant can be more than one meter long (39 inches). There are two leaves that grow directly from the base of each bulb and these are automatically shed from the plant at the beginning of each new growth. The lip of the bloom is hinged so that when insects try to remove nectar, they are shoved next to the column to help pollinate the bloom.

Did you know that all orchids are perennial herbs that lack permanent woody stems? There are actually only two basic types of orchids, the Monopodial and the Sympodial. The Monopodial stem grows from a single bud and each year the stem grows longer as leaves are added. The stems can reach several meters long as they do the Vanilla and Vanda orchids. Keep in mind that one meter equals about 39”. The Sympodial orchid produces a series of adjacent shoots which grow to the appropriate size for a particular plant; they bloom and then stop growing, only to be replaced by new shoots. Rather than vertical, they grow laterally. They follow their support which can be the ground or rocks or a tree, developing new roots and leaves which sprout next to last years growth. While that new lead develops, the rhizome may also start its growth again from an undeveloped bud and branch out….a simple process that’s repeated every year. The Anguloa orchid is Monopodial.

The blooms of the Anguloa orchid have a strong cinnamon scent and have a waxy appearance. In the wild they are either a greenish white or a yellow to red. The white ones have six pseudobulbs and can produce up to twelve more. The reason they got the tulip name is because the sepals (outside petals) have a bulbous shape. The lip has three lobes and the column has four pollinia sticking out to attract the insects for cross pollination. These tulip orchids normally bloom in the spring and summer since it prefers intermediate to colder temperatures and full shade. The plant should be kept evenly moist to foster proper blooming yet needs less water in the winter. Also, to encourage flowering after it has finished growing for the season, watering should be decreased.

Since seeds are generally almost microscopic and it takes years for the initial growth, it’s better to buy orchids already potted. If you buy them potted in 2 1/2” pots, they usually will flower within the next two-to-three years under bright, indirect light. Of course you can buy them in larger pots when they are already old enough to bloom. A good orchid fertilizer will keep them healthy and happy as will talking to them while you admire their incredible beauty. Take my word for it. It works.

Here is a fascinating video about orchids in Ecuador.
Do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to watch it!

More information about this wonderful Anguloa orchid can be found at the following links:

Whether you need more general information about orchids and how to grow them or whether you need more specific how-to tips and valuable resources, we can help. Visit us often at Orchid Care.org because we have the orchid expertise you need.

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