Oncidium ornithorhynchum H.B.K. 1815 SECTION Rostrata
Floral Closeup Photos courtesy of Jay Pfahl
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Common Name The Birds Beak Oncidium
Flower Size 3/4" [to 2 cm]
This is a northern Central American, cold to warm growing species that grows as an epiphyte in humid forests at altitudes up to 1500 meters and likes a semi-winter rest. Found as a medium sized, epiphytic plant with oval, compressed, 2 1/2" [6 cm] pseudobulbs that are fairly closely grouped on the rhizome and as a rule there are two apical, flexible, curved, linear-lanceolate, 8" [20 cm] leaves. The basal, curving or pendulous, to 2' [60 cm] long, dense and branched, strongly arched panicle, sometimes two to a mature pseudobulb, arise in the fall and winter and have numerous fragrant longlasting flowers. I mounted this species on cork and it thrives, many times blooming more than once a year.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Symbolae Antillanae Vol VI Orchidaceae Urban 1909; AOS Bulletin Vol 30 No 9 1961; AOS Bulletin Vol 32 No 10 1963; AOS Bulletin Vol 33 No 5 1964; AOS Bulletin Vol 48 No 5 1979; AOS Bulletin Vol 48 No 7 1979 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 53 No 1 1984 photo; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 1243 Dodson 1985; AOS Bulletin Vol 55 No 3 1986 photo; Icones Orchidacearum I Plate 77 Hagsater & Salazar 1990; AOS Bulletin Vol 60 No 4/331 1991 drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 66 No 3 1997 photo; Australian Orchid Review Vol 66 No 2 2001 photo; The Pictoral Encyclopedia of Oncidium Zelenko 2002 Orquideologia Vol. 23 No 2 2004 Orchid Species Culture: Oncidium, Bakers 2006; Oncidium VOl 3 Koniger 2007 photo/drawing;
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