gongora

All species included in the bizzare -flowering genus Gongora that play a significant role in cultivation look very much alike outside the flowering period ,which is why they are introduce all at once. The orchids form grooved ,conic and fresh-looking pseudobulbs that are usually end with a pair of slim ,oval leaves adorned with showy ,solid venation . The pseudobulbs reach height of 3.2 in/8 cm ,while the leaves tend to be about four times longer . The roots are also worth mentioning : they are very fine and snow -white ,forming a dense net in the air. Some of the roots are capable of reverse geotropic growth ,that is vertically upward . This specialization has been described in other epiphytes as well(for instance ,in Anthuria from the family Aracae) and serves to form something resembling aerial root-balls or nests;gradually ,descending organic material gets caught in the roots and the plants subsequently use it for nutrition. The genus Gangora also boasts other attractions -above all its remarkable flowers . Multi-blossom flower axes grow out of the bases of the pseudobulbs,at first vertically upward,and later perpendicularly downward to the ground. The individual flowers are backward -oriented,i.e., their lip points upward ,and they hang in space on almost circular-arched peduncles that are unique to the genus and impossible to overlook. The plants ecological requirements ,and hence also cultivation rules ,are the same for all secies of the genus Gongora. They all have average light needs. Grow them either epiphytically on a largish support (a slab of fine bark ,a ''head'' of grapevine),or in a highly permeable substrate in an epiphytic basket or even in a flowerpot-a disadvantage of this cultivation style is that the aerial roots do not get a chance to shine . As the inflorescence are overhanging ,it is necessary to use suspended containers . As soon as the plants begins to show very delicate foundations of future inflorescences ,watering should be reduced a little to avoid the danger of molding . After the flowers fade ,the plants are in need of a brief rest . The genus numbers a tottal of about 25 species known to grow in tropical America,including Mexico ,Carribbean islands and Brazil,with the most dense occurrence in Central America.