Caucaea olivaceum (Kunth) N.H. Williams & M.W. Chase 2001
Photo by © Jay Pfahl
Photo by © Lourens Grobler
Common Name The Olive-Green Oncidium
Flower Size 1.5" [3.75 cm]
Found in Colombia and Ecuador at elevations of 2300 to 3960 meters as a miniature to small sized, cold growing epiphyte on rotting tree trunks with clustered, egg-shaped, laterally compressed, dull green pseudobulbs with longitudinal ridges on the sides and carrying 1 to 2, apical, linear to strap shaped, leathery, acute, longitudinally folded leaves that can bloom all year round on a basal, slender, erect to nodding, 16 to 32" [40 to 80 cm] long, racemose to paniculate inflorescence carrying 8 to 12 showy, long-lasting, color variable, violet scented flowers.
Cited as synonomous with C rhodistica but there are obvious floral differences, I have left it separate pending further review.
C cucullata is also cited as synonomous with this species, I have left it separate pending further review.
Synonyms Caucaea kennedyi (Stacy) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase 2001; Oncidium cucullatum subvar. olivaceum (Kunth) H.J. Veitch 1892; Oncidium cucullatum var. giganteum hort. 1882; Oncidium cucullatum var. oliveaceum [HBK] Gower Oncidium olivaceum Kunth 1816; Oncidium olivaceum var. giganteum (hort.) Stacey 1975
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Otia Botanica Hamburgensia Rchb.f 1878 as Oncidium olivaceum; Das Pflanzenreich; Orchidaceae-Monandre, Tribus Oncidinae-Odontoglosseae Pars II Kranzl. [1922] 1957 as Oncidium olivaceum; Manual of Cultivated Orchids Bechtel, Cribb & Laurent 1982 as as Oncidium olivaceum; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 3 COS 1991 as Oncidium olivaceum photo fide; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 33 - 36 2057 - 2308 Brieger 1997 as Oncidium olivaceum; AOS Bulletin Vol 69 No 10 2000as Oncidium oliveaceum photo good; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 4 Dodson 2003 as Oncidium olivaceum photo fide; *Lindleyana Vol 16 No 4 2001; Orquideologia Vol. 23 No 2 2004 as Oncidium oliveaceum; Oncidium Vol 3 Koniger 2007 as Oncidium oliveaceum drawing/photo fide; Orquideologia Vol 27 #1 2010 photo Fide; Orchid Species Culture Oncidium/Odontoglossum Bakers 2006 as Oncidium olivaceum; Orchid Digest Vol 80 #2 2016; AOS Bulletin Vol 88 #10 2019 photo fide;
Caucaea olivaceum (Kunth) N.H. Williams & M.W. Chase 2001 var album
Photo by © Jay Pfahl
A white colored clone of the previous species. Plant grown by Arturo Carillo.
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