Trichoglottis biglandulosa

We have always known this stunning miniature orchid as Ceratochilus biglandulosus but a quick check on Kew's 'Plants of the World Online' shows that Ceratochilus has now been included in Trichoglottis (one of our favourite genera).

The species is native to mountain cloud forests in Java with a climate very similar to the cloud forests of South America and so we grow this plant in our cloud forest greenhouse (min 12C) with our masdevallias.

We grow the species mounted, partly because a plant this small in a pot would not show off its natural elegance but also because the plant is naturally pendulous with semi terete leaves on stems that over time bend downwards from the base.

Today we will pollinate this flower and hope for healthy ripe seed to sow in our lab in around six months time.