Unusual and rare orchid species
Phalaenopsis orchids are beautiful tropical flowers that are grown indoors for decorative purposes. There are many species and families of plants that are very different from each other. Rare and unusual orchids and phalaenopsis are of interest to flower collectors.
Unusual and rare orchid species
Coleman Orchid
Coleman's flower is a rare member of the Phalaenopsis family, characterized by an unusual appearance. He lives in the United States, New Mexico. Previously, the flower was found in the canyons of Arizona, but fires, drought and industrial waste have led the species to extinction.
Features of the variety:
- multi-colored buds of a purple hue;
- lack of chlorophyll in the branches;
- brown stems.
Another name for the variety is Coralrut. It reflects the unusual shape and color of the plant: it resembles corals. The orchid feeds on substances from the soil.
Coleman's orchid is a rare member of the phalaenopsis family
Rothschild's slipper
It is the most expensive orchid variety in the world and can only be purchased illegally on the black market. It belongs to the Phalaenopsis species.
The plant lives only in 1 place in the world - in the forests around Mount Kinabalu, which is located on the island of Borneo. The plant blooms once a decade, making the variety not only rare but also unusual.
Rothschild's slipper is the most expensive orchid variety in the world
Sunny
It is a terrestrial variety with a poorly developed root system. It has several oval tubers. At the base of the stem, the first leaf grows, which covers the lower part of the peduncle.
The inflorescence has the shape of a brush with 3-5 flowers. Unusual orchid flowers open for a short time only in sunny weather.
The flower consists of 3 sepals of the same size. Light blue flowers have an elongated shape with a pointed tip. There are dark round spots on their surface.
When grown at home, the flower attracts pollinating insects. He is originally from Tasmania.
The flower consists of 3 sepals of the same size
Lady slippers
A rare plant. Refers to terrestrial phalaenopsis species. It is an erect flower of small size with several leaves at the base, which grow from the roots. Pink flowers sprout from them.
The petals are dark yellow. The pouch of the flower is pinkish, with dark spots. The variety acquired its name due to the similarity with women's shoes.
Such an orchid is not widespread in the world, it is found only in North America at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level. She prefers a cool climate, grows in forests and heather fields with acidic soil.
Three birds
This is a compact terrestrial plant from the semi-saprophytic family. The name of the variety comes from the number of flowers. The color is dominated by white and light blue shades. It has several small green leaves on its stem.
The orchid species is unusual because of the ephemeral flowers. They bloom for 3-6 hours several days a year. Lives in North and Central America.
Bull
A rare plant lives in:
- the mango swamps on the coast of the Philippines;
- on the high plateaus of America;
- in Indonesia.
The variety belongs to the dendrobium family. Outwardly, it resembles a reed. It has many dark green leaves of an oval two-lobed shape. There is always shine on their surface.
Features of the variety:
- large sizes;
- fast growing epiphyte;
- tall and tough brown stem.
The diameter of the flowers reaches 6 cm. They have a light pink color. The plant has 10 to 30 blooms. The variety got its name due to its external resemblance to the head of a bull.
The Bull variety belongs to the dendrobium family.
Gochstätter
Endemic phalaenops grows in only one place: near a volcano in the Azores. This is one of the rarest and most unusual orchids in the world.
Outwardly, a large flower has several leaves of a light green color, which sprout from the roots near the ground. The inflorescence resembles an ear, in which there are up to 14 small flowers with a diameter of 2 cm. The flowers are light yellow.
Dragon company
This rare plant lives in 2 places in the world:
- east of Newfoundland;
- in the south of Virginia.
The species prefers swampy areas and lowlands. Its height reaches 35 cm. The stem grows from a tuber with 1 leaf. It has large pink flowers. The combs are light yellow in color. Outwardly resembles a crown.
The column is long and curved, widening at the tip. The variety is unusual due to the fact that it blooms for a short time, several years before death.
The dragon company prefers wetlands and lowlands
Striped ice
The species lives:
- in the south of Canada;
- in the north of the United States;
- in the west of Mexico.
Prefers dry soil in coniferous forests with a lot of plant material. It feeds on fungi using mycoheterotrophy. The stem will grow 40 cm tall.
Stem color options:
- red;
- white;
- yellow;
- green;
- pink.
There is no chlorophyll in the leaves. They are colorless and cover the entire trunk. The root system is poorly developed. It has 10-30 burgundy or pink flowers. The blooms are an array of sepals with a purple column inside.
Striped Iceman prefers dry soil in coniferous forests
Hawaiian swamp
The Hawaiian swamp orchid belongs to the endemic family. She is on the verge of extinction. Fewer than 30 flowers grow in the world.
Plants destroy:
- wild boars;
- climate change;
- human activity.
The variety grows from tubers. The peduncle has a straight shape, reaches 50 cm in height. Small flowers are bright yellow in color.
The orchid species is unusual due to the unknown ways of its reproduction and lifespan. It lives in swamps and lava soils.
Hawaiian swamp orchid belongs to the endemic family
Ghost orchid
The ghost orchid is a perennial phalaenopsis that lives on:
- Cuba,
- The Bahamas;
- in Florida.
The plant is unusual due to its photosynthetic root system. It lives in tree heaps. Prefers swampy and damp forest soils.
The main part of the flower is a flat root system. The white lines are the stomata that perform gas exchange and photosynthesis. The outer layer is velamen, characteristic of epiphytes.
The flowers are white. They reach 6 cm in diameter. The petals are delicate and thin.
Conclusion
Unusual varieties also have their drawbacks. Rare orchids and phalaenopsis require extra care when grown at home. Breeding such varieties is best done by experienced florists.
Orchid care includes regular watering and maintaining the temperature. It is also necessary to choose the right soil and regularly apply top dressing.