| Rhynchostele bictoniensis | |||||||||||||||||
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Rhynchostele bictoniensis is an epiphytic orchid from the genus Rhynchostele.
Description[]
Plants bloom from September to November with up to twenty-five 4 cm wide flowers on up to 60 cm long inflorescences.
Hybrids[]
Rhynchostele bictoniensis was not used during the Odontoglossum breeding boom between 1860 and 1940, and only one hybrid is registered for this time in 1909 - Rhynchostele Stamfordiense (x Rhynch. uro-skinneri). But it has been widely used in hybridizing later on, starting in 1960. Rhynchostele bictoniensis is used in hybridization for it's good presentation of the flowers, vigour growth, slightly more warmth toleranth (compared to Odontoglossums) and for inheriting clearly patterned flowers. This happens normally at the cost of reduced flower size, but is compensated by an increased flower count. Famous hybrids are Rhynchostele BicRoss (x Rhynch. rossii), Rhynchostele Violetta von Holm (x Rhynch. BicRoss), Odontocidium Golden Trident (x Odontocidium Tiger Hambühren), Odontoglossum Anneliese Rothenberger (x Odontoglossum Goldrausch), Adaglossum Mandarin (x Ada aurantiaca), Odontorettia Mandarin (x Comparettia speciosa), Odontoglossum Midnight Miracle (x Odontoglossum cariniferum), Adaglossum Summit (x Ada keiliana), Maclellanara Leopard (x Maclellanara Pagan Lovesong) and many others. In total, Rhynchostele bictoniense was used 186 times for generating Oncidiinae hybrids (status 2007).
Distribution[]
Found in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. Plants are growing in humid mountain forests at elevations of 1,600 to 3,200 m. They grow epiphytically in humous accumulations on bigger branches, but more often litophytically in rocky clearings.
Culture[]
Rhynchostele bictoniensis is an easy grower, and can also be grown at a windowsill in sparsely heated rooms. Grow in cool to intermediate conditions with moderate light. Water the plant right before the potting mix starts to dry. Plants should be potted in a well drain medium such as medium fir bark.
Varieties[]
| Image | Name | Description |
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Rhynchostele bictoniensis var. album | Sepals and petals are yellow-green, lip white. |
Naming[]
Common name: Bicton's Rhynchostele, named after the town Bicton in Devonshire (England), where it was cultivated and flowered in 1837.
Synonyms[]
- Cymbiglossum bictoniense (Bateman) Halb. 1983
- *Cyrtochilum bictoniense Bateman 1838
- Lemboglossum bictoniense (Bateman) Halb. 1984
- Odontoglossum bictoniense [Bateman.] Lindley 1840
- Oncidium bictoniense hort. 1833
- Zygopetalum africanum Hooker 1840