One of the most spectacular orchids I’ve ever seen is the Catasetum orchid, a subfamily of the Epidendroideae. It has “only” 166 species and I put the word “only” in quotes because the majority of orchid plants have many hundred and even thousands of species. Abbreviated as Ctsm in the horticultural trade, this beauty has its origins in Mexico with the majority of them coming from Brazil.

Some of them grow in the dry forests of northeastern Ecuador at higher elevations of approximately 1500 meters (4,000 ft). There are about 50 or 60 species in the more tropical areas of America. Some orchids have the most interesting leaves which offer something to admire beyond the flowers. The plant is deciduous and the upper portion of the leaves is actually pleated. They have clusters of thick pseudobulbs which become spiny after the leaves have dropped when it’s time for the plant to go dormant.

The name for the Catasetum orchids comes from Greek which means downward or backward bristles which are on the column and which trigger the expulsion of pollen. They are epiphytic or terrestrial and do require hothouse conditions outside of their natural tropical habitat. The flowers themselves are in racemes or on spikes and are in luscious shades of green, yellow, purple, brown and a soft white. Firm and fleshy in texture, the flowers are unisexual which is quite exceptional for orchids. The colorful male flowers and the yellowish-green female flowers grow on different plants. There are some rarer cases where one plant can produce both female and male flowers which are very different in both size and color. At first, taxonomists thought they were different species but the growth is determined by the conditions under which it grows.

Catasetum saccatum is a sack shaped orchid from tropical South America and the male flowers have a unique technique for ejecting the pollen. Discussed by Darwin of all people, the bloom actually launches its pollen sacs with a force that is explosive when the seta is touched by an insect. In 1991 Darwin was ridiculed by Thomas Huxley, a naturalist. If you’re interested in that interaction, check out Penguin Group, ISBN 0-7181-3430-3, page 510.

Most of the species are not really showy but they are interesting to an amateur like me as well as a botanist because of the ejection of the pollen masses and the beauty of the leaves as well as the bloom. Some gardeners have trouble with Catasetums but they are not really difficult to grow if you given them the same conditions as their origins and good care. They can grow in pots and baskets and are easily propagated by dividing the plants at their bases. You can also cut the ripe pseudobulbs in pieces and plant them in sand. They do need the high temperature and bright light, water during their growing season and a long period of rest after they have bloomed. You do need to keep on watering after flowering, at least twice a month, so that the pseudobulbs don’t dry out. But not too much, they’ll die with too much watering. Always consult the guides that come with any orchids you buy. They’ll grow easily in bark with perlite, cork, tree fern and full sphagnum moss.

The male flowers grow in shadier conditions that have more moisture than the female flowers which like bright light and low moisture conditions. Both types bloom from late spring on through early winter and are fragrant. The flowers can be as wide as 7.5 cm (2 1/2 to 3”). Just look at the photo. Isn’t this plant simply amazing? Wouldn’t you like to have a few pots of this Catasetum Orchid?

You have to see this video.
The photography is fantastic and the background music is appropriately sensual.

You can never have too much information about these wonderful Catasetum orchids. Click on the links provided below and see what others are saying about them:

We at Orchid Care.org have the good ideas, the valuable resources and the most up-to-date information about orchids and their care. Look around you and enjoy.

Filed under: Orchid Species

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