Aspasia psittacina (Rchb. f.) Rchb. f. 1878

Photo by © Jay Pfahl

LATE to EARLY

Common Name The Parrot-Colored Aspasia

Flower Size 2" high x 1 3/5” wide [5 cm]

Found in Ecuador and Peru at elevations of 30 to 520 meters in seasonally dry forests with frequent nocturnal fog as a hot growing, caespitose epiphyte with an elongate stem beneath the oblong-ellisoid, strongly compressed, stiptate pseudobulbs subtended by 3 to 5, foliaceous bracts that are smaller than the 2 leaves which are linear-lanceolate and acuminate, that blooms in the late winter and early summer on an axillary, variable length, congested raceme arising from mature pseudobulbs, with ovate, acute floral bracts and has 3 to 8, fragrant [clove] flowers that open in succession over a long period.

After flowering a short 1 to 2 month rest is beneficial, resume watering and fertilizer with the onset of new growth and flowers best if given very cramped quarters in a small pot. This species can keiki off of old bloom spikes so do not cut them off until they are brown if you want babies.

Synonyms Odontoglossum psittacinum Rchb. 1877

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids from The Coast Of Ecuador Arosemana, Jurado, Estrada and Konanz 1988 photo fide; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 403 Bennet & Christenson 1998 drawing fide; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum Plate 002 Dodson 1980 drawing fide; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Dodson Vol 1 1993 photo fide; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 33 - 36 2057 - 2308 Brieger 1997 ; Flora Of Ecuador # 76 225[2] Dodson & Luer 2005 drawing fide; Flora's Orchids Nash & La Croix 2005; The Pictoral Encyclopedia of Oncidium Zelenko 2005; Orchid Species Culture: Oncidium, Bakers 2006; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko Bermudez 2009 photo fide; Orchids, A Colombian Treasure Vol 1 Ortiz & Uribe 2014 drawing fide

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