Epidendrum boricuarum, the fleshy star orchid

[Ricardo in PR]

Found at middle to high elevations in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Island of Guadalupe, this orchid was long confused with Epidendrum difforme. This is a photo from a plant growing in the wild in the area near Mt. Britton in the mountains of the Sierra de Luquillo. From time to time you see this plant in the collections of local orchid growers, usually in a clear state of deterioration. Apparently it takes either a particularly green thumb or the luck of having the right conditions at home for this plant to do well in captivity. There are some pleople that are able to grow this plant well, as I have seen specimen plants at shows, but they are just a few of them. So I generally advice to let this plant in the wild. This is a specially difficult thing to do as in favorable habitats these plants are not rare and you find this orchid in fallen branches often enough. But bringing these cloud forest plants into the much drier, much,much hotter coastal enviroment is sure death for them unless their needs are met with meticulous and infailing care. This particular plant hails from the sierra palm forest. The sierra palm is so dominant in its middle elevation habitat that it is estimated that from three million and a half to four million palms live in this rainforest forming extensive almost pure strands.

[Tio Super]

It seems that there are difforme and pseudodifforme populations also occuring in PR. BTW, Eric Hagaster reffers to Epi difforme complex when discussing Epi difforme and the related species (so close are they in appearance only a trained eye can go into the minute differences that separate them)

[Ricardo in PR]

Originally Posted by Tio Super

It seems that there are difforme and pseudodifforme populations also occuring in PR. BTW, Eric Hagaster reffers to Epi difforme complex when discussing Epi difforme and the related species (so close are they in appearance only a trained eye can go into the minute differences that separate them)

I had noted that highland forms seem sublty different from lower elevation forms but I thought that this was not significant. I will try to pay more attention the next time I come across one of this plant growing in the Karst area.

[Graphicgreg]

Interesting comment about this plant being a difficult subject to cultivate, even in it's native climate. Our Tolumnia bahamensis is the same - very difficult to keep alive in cultivation and the plants are best left where they are.

What is sad is that the restricted area where they are found is under extreme pressure from development. http://www.orchidworks.com/bahamensis/

[Ricardo in PR]

Very interesting reading in those links! There are a few species in PR that just won't survive in cultivation but it is not clear whether it is due to the plant's intolerance of deviations from its natural regime, lack of cultural skills from the side of the growers or simply a peculiar feature of the plant's life history. I have become accostumed to see Ionopsis and Leochilus grow, thrive, flower abundantly and then die in their natural habitat even in what seems like the most favorable situation for growth and survival imaginable.