Sievekingia butcheri - Orchid Board

isurus79 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 04:19 AM

This little plant is a close relative of the Stanhopeas as you can see by its pendulous habit. On this guy's first bloom ever, it threw 3 spikes!! Not too shabby. The scent is exactly like fresh pine needles (which is pleasant and totally unexpected!) and the flowers are pretty short lived (ie. a few days), though I've noticed that many Stanhopinae plants have more pronouncedly short lived blooms on their first try than normal. Another unexpected little tidbit about these flowers is that instead of slowly fading and turning brown as they get past their prime, the flowers actually just close themselves to look just like they did as developing buds (see last picture, below). Then, they just fall off! No undignified aging, just a disappearing act! Enjoy!

golforchid · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 04:47 AM

A pretty rare species native to Panama, named in honor of Henry Butcher, and apparently the only member of the genus with white flowers. Back in 1983, when it was still possible to bring back collected species, I went with a small group on a collecting trip to Panama - we looked for it but never found any. The only two firms that ever offered it were Finca Dracula via Woodstream Orchids and Tropical Orchid Farm. Where did you acquire your plant?

isurus79 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golforchid

A pretty rare species native to Panama, named in honor of Henry Butcher, and apparently the only member of the genus with white flowers. Back in 1983, when it was still possible to bring back collected species, I went with a small group on a collecting trip to Panama - we looked for it but never found any. The only two firms that ever offered it were Finca Dracula via Woodstream Orchids and Tropical Orchid Farm. Where did you acquire your plant?

Why TOF of course! I got this one maybe a year or two ago? Could you tell me a bit more about the conditions that this plant is supposed to grow in? There is absolutely no info on it and I haven't seen any growth on it recently, though as you can see, it is blooming now. I put this plant from fairly deep shade into a much brighter area (the same place my Stan jenishiana thrives) and not long after, I got three spikes. Apparently, this species likes bright light! However, I would love to hear more about the region you tried to collect it in. Is it a seasonally dry area? Is it hot, cool (that's my guess), high altitude, low altitude, etc. Thanks! I really appreciate it!

golforchid · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 06:35 AM

It's been over 25 years since I was in Panama...There's not much literature on this species, except that it's been found in Cocle Province. I believe we searched for it in the montane cloud forests around El Valle de Anton. El Valle sits in the caldera of "the largest dormant volcano in Central America". Altitude is 2200 mts (about 7200 feet) Year round temperature is between 68-78 degrees. FYI Peristeria elata - the national flower of Panama - also hails from this area. I recall that I hauled around a collecting pole and was always looking up...the only species you could easily see were Ctsm which found on the sides of palm trees and on fence posts; although many folks had plants of "parasitos" which was what they called orchids, growing around their homes. We were fortunate while in El Valle to visit the home of the late Walter Maduro who was one of the foremost orchidists in Panama. His son, Andreas, owns Finca Dracula located in Cerro Punto - www.fincadracula.com
If anyone had more info about Sievekingia butcheri I bet it would be the folks at Finca Dracula

tuvoc · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 11:24 AM

That is just too cool, Steve!

Kim

Jan Pahl · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 02:53 PM

This one is quite cute

Gena · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 03:54 PM

Steve, this is so beautiful!!! And so rare! I tried to find this one, but…. Thank you so much for sharing and congratulations!!!

I love Sievekingia and this year I decided to try some of them. So I bought three plants (Sievekingia colombiana, Sievekingia marsupialis and Sievekingia reichenbachiana) from Ecuador this spring. After short adaptation they are doing fine now. I treat mine like Stanhopeas.

isurus79 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golforchid

It's been over 25 years since I was in Panama...There's not much literature on this species, except that it's been found in Cocle Province. I believe we searched for it in the montane cloud forests around El Valle de Anton. El Valle sits in the caldera of "the largest dormant volcano in Central America". Altitude is 2200 mts (about 7200 feet) Year round temperature is between 68-78 degrees. FYI Peristeria elata - the national flower of Panama - also hails from this area. I recall that I hauled around a collecting pole and was always looking up...the only species you could easily see were Ctsm which found on the sides of palm trees and on fence posts; although many folks had plants of "parasitos" which was what they called orchids, growing around their homes. We were fortunate while in El Valle to visit the home of the late Walter Maduro who was one of the foremost orchidists in Panama. His son, Andreas, owns Finca Dracula located in Cerro Punto - www.fincadracula.com
If anyone had more info about Sievekingia butcheri I bet it would be the folks at Finca Dracula

This is exactly the info I was looking for! Thanks!

isurus79 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gena

Steve, this is so beautiful!!! And so rare! I tried to find this one, but…. Thank you so much for sharing and congratulations!!!

I love Sievekingia and this year I decided to try some of them. So I bought three plants (Sievekingia colombiana, Sievekingia marsupialis and Sievekingia reichenbachiana) from Ecuador this spring. After short adaptation they are doing fine now. I treat mine like Stanhopeas.

This is also my first try with Sievekingia, so I'm still experimenting. I had a feeling that the butcheri likes cooler conditions than my Stans and brighter light. So far, so good! I can't wait to see your blooms! This is a genus that deserves more attention.

golforchid · #10 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 12:41 PM

www.epidendra.org/taxones/Sievekingia%butcheri/sievekingia_butcheri_protologo.pdf

Since I'm home sick from work and have nothing else to do, I "googled" Sievekingia butcheri and found the above citation and description of this species which was published in Orquideologia 13(3):221-222 April 1979. Don't worry if you can't read the Spanish because the description is repeated in English. There is also a botanical drawing and a black&white photo. It jogged my memory as we did search for it on La Mesa and Walter Maduro was one of the individuals who had cultivated one of the three plants that were originally found.