catasetum integerrimum

after separating the mother for the first time, this is the first time this division blooms, in fact it is from the first growth.
so far this is one of my most favorite hooded catasetums. just love the shape of this flower, it appears to me that they are gracefully bowing down.
these are male flowers, evident by the presence of trigger pollina (often mistaken by a newbie for female because of the hooded appearance). these plants are huge, but this is my first division, the backbulb is almost three inches in diameter. i am hoping them to get bigger during subsequent growths.

the last pic here shows the detail of the borders of the hood, smooth and round which differentiates it from catasetum maculatum, which is slightly rectangular and had a serrated edge. here also the trigger pollina is clearly visible with the antenna extending deep under the hood

speaking of it, somehow i still had not earn a female integerrimum bloom yet.

the last pic here, taken three days after bloom, showing the trigger pollina and also lateral view of the bloom

26th June 2012
just thought of adding in some pics of today's bloom

the last pic below, new bloom on year January 31st 2013

catasetum cirrhaeoides

this is another one of those mini catasetum series and cited as part of the catasetum pulchrum complex.

this particular plant is currently about three inches tall, the flower are sweet smelling and at times smells like faint manuka honey smell to me. the flower is about three inches in width and an inch tall (similar to the denticulatum that i had). just got this plant not too long ago, and hope that it will grow into into larger specimen in the future for i had seen some pics of this plant that bears more than thrity flowers in a spike!

the first pic here is the plant condition when it first arrive in my garden and the rest are during the blooming period.

this plant actually belongs to the batch of catasetum with the worst bulb rot problem when it came. here is a the link to what happen to the batch of catasetums http://catasetum-ian.blogspot.com/2011/12/at-times-small-sacrifice-is-necessary.html

this is the first to flower from that batch and i do hope all will follow the similar path, however it is a long shot as a few is still struggling to overcome the bulb rot problem.

catasetum callosum

this is the second post on catasetum callosum. for the first post about catasetum callosum, here is the link http://catasetum-ian.blogspot.com/2010/12/catasetum-callosum.html

just thought of adding in some additional info. the flower is dark brown about 2inches across and about 2inches tall, fragrant and easy flowering plant. it had a pair of isoceras pollinae and also the roughed appearance of the labellum. that is where it get its name from.

basically i think this is one of those catasetum collection that did not fail to flower on every pseudobulb so far. though it is common for catasetums to flower during the active growing phase or dormant phase, this is the first time for a catasetum to flower during the dormant phase for me.

in addition, i just got my self a division of catasetum callosum x catasetum penang (Catasetum broga black leopard), it a rather puny division i got, anyway it was what that is available at that time. the bulb it started with is merely an inch plus tall. can't wait to see the bloom of this cross myself.

seems like the some insect just busted the flower this morning...well, why not just pull the flower apart for some study purpose. in fact this has given me the idea, perhaps will take a pic of all the parts of the flower for subsequent different blooms

Catasetum penang red x Catasetum jumbo pearl 'serdang oo oo' (Catasetum redland black cherry)

Bought this plant about two years back, wonderful deep maroon blooms. but i started my first time division soon after the first bloom because the media is basically "expired".

not long after posting the picture in the internet, several catasetum enthusiast had asked to purchase or barter trade for one of its division and before i notice it, i was left with the very last division of it and not to mention, the pseudobulb is only about 2 inches tall.

after nearly two years of reestablishing this division, it finally came to bloom after the emergence of the second pseudobulb.

flower is about 7.2 cm across and the labellum itself is 5cm across. height of the flower is 7cm tall. minty smell mix with cinnamon, sweet smelling to me. just wish to share this wonderful bloom with all the blog viewers here.

6th June 2012
second spike of the same bulb, this time with seven flowers

 the last pic below is the appearance of this spie, it has a modified pseudobulb structure, with a roots on its own and later will give out new growth of its own. i had other catasetums with similar condition, but never one with modified pseudobulb that is developed enough to throw out a new growth. if this one manage to do so again, it will be the second one for this hybrid.