While some authorities consider all cirrhopetalums as part of the huge, closely related genus Bulbophyllum, others keep them distinct. There are obvious similarities between the plants, which often cannot be distinguished out of bloom, but the flowers can be horticulturally recognized by the extremely long and tapering sepals produced by the majority of the species.
They are mentioned here as a separate genus firstly because the older name is retained for horticultural usage and secondly to enable the reader to distinguish readily between them. For hybrid registration purposes, both Bulbophyllum and Cirrhopetalum have been recognized, with four bigeneric hybrids being registered as Cirrhophyllum in 1965.
Mostly the species are rare and much treasured. The main appreciable difference between Cyrtochilum and Oncidium is the size of the lip, which, so often exaggerated in the oncidiums, is much reduced in favour of broad, spreading sepals in the cyrtochilums. The plants, which can be over 30cm (12in) tall, produce robust pseudobulbs with narrowly oval leaves.
Calanthes have a short, fast-growing season. Because of the speed at which they grow, these are really exciting orchids to cultivate, but they do need plenty of headroom while in leaf. Repot each spring when the growth starts. If the oldest pseudobulb is dead and shrivelled, remove it; if it is still firm and plump, it may be potted separately to give you two new plants next season.
Cyrtochilums do well alongside other members of the Odontoglossum alliance. Some of the species produce their new pseudobulbs along an upward-creeping rhizome, with a long gap in between. One good way of growing these is to insert a mossy pole into a heavy flowerpot and allow the plant to extend upwards. Aerial roots soon become a feature of these plant.
In winter and spring, little flowers less than 1cm wide adorn the pretty Cirrhopetalum gut tulatum, which can be easily grown and does well indoors or in a cool greenhouse. The flower spikes are under 15cm (6 in) tall. Cirrhopetalum umbellatum A robust species with plants over 15cm tall, this has drooping flower spikes that terminate in umbels of large flowers where the sepals are extended to form the edge of the ring. The petals and lip are very small. The flowers bloom in spring.
They are mentioned here as a separate genus firstly because the older name is retained for horticultural usage and secondly to enable the reader to distinguish readily between them. For hybrid registration purposes, both Bulbophyllum and Cirrhopetalum have been recognized, with four bigeneric hybrids being registered as Cirrhophyllum in 1965.
Mostly the species are rare and much treasured. The main appreciable difference between Cyrtochilum and Oncidium is the size of the lip, which, so often exaggerated in the oncidiums, is much reduced in favour of broad, spreading sepals in the cyrtochilums. The plants, which can be over 30cm (12in) tall, produce robust pseudobulbs with narrowly oval leaves.
Calanthes have a short, fast-growing season. Because of the speed at which they grow, these are really exciting orchids to cultivate, but they do need plenty of headroom while in leaf. Repot each spring when the growth starts. If the oldest pseudobulb is dead and shrivelled, remove it; if it is still firm and plump, it may be potted separately to give you two new plants next season.
Cyrtochilums do well alongside other members of the Odontoglossum alliance. Some of the species produce their new pseudobulbs along an upward-creeping rhizome, with a long gap in between. One good way of growing these is to insert a mossy pole into a heavy flowerpot and allow the plant to extend upwards. Aerial roots soon become a feature of these plant.
In winter and spring, little flowers less than 1cm wide adorn the pretty Cirrhopetalum gut tulatum, which can be easily grown and does well indoors or in a cool greenhouse. The flower spikes are under 15cm (6 in) tall. Cirrhopetalum umbellatum A robust species with plants over 15cm tall, this has drooping flower spikes that terminate in umbels of large flowers where the sepals are extended to form the edge of the ring. The petals and lip are very small. The flowers bloom in spring.
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