San Leandro, CA (Zone 9b) | February 2018 | neutral
Per Rogier van Vugt, the Head Gardener at the greenhouses at Leiden University and at Hortus botanicus Leiden, from Noordwijk, Zuid-Holla...Read Morend, Netherlands about his photos posted above:
Beclardia macrostachya is a very beautiful orchid that can be found in parts of Madagascar and the Mascarene islands. I made these pics on La Reunion island where it is very common on different altitudes and where it grows in a wide range of habitats. From terrestrial in mossy forests and as epiphyte in dryish Acacia forest to growing on rocks in the hot lowland. It seems not picky at all. Yet everyone I hear that has tried growing this plant says it's close to impossible to please in cultivation. It never adapts and dies quickly. A true riddle of botany. Well I guess if you want to see it you'll have to see it in the wild.
Per Rogier van Vugt, the Head Gardener at the greenhouses at Leiden University and at Hortus botanicus Leiden, from Noordwijk, Zuid-Holla...Read More