2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Brassavola - a genus of herbaceous flowering perennial plants of the Orchid family (Latin Orchidaceae). For lovers of the citrus scent, the plants of the genus are a real find, because their flowers exude the most delicate citrus aroma, however, at night. This type of orchid is one of the easiest orchids to cultivate and has been cultivated in Europe since the 17th century.
What's in your name
The Latin name of the genus "Brassavola" honors the memory of the physician and botanist of Italy, Antonio Musa Brasavola, 1500 - 1555, who lived during the Renaissance. This name was given to the genus by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown (21.12.1773 - 10.06.1858), who was considered the best connoisseur of plants among his contemporaries. Robert Brown (although it is more correct to say - Brown, but it so happened in the Russian language, because everyone knows the "Brownian motion" discovered by this scientist) has done a tremendous job of simplifying the classification of the plant world.
Description
Orchids of the Brassavola genus can be lithophytes, that is, they live on rocky slopes, but more often they are epiphytes growing on tropical trees of Central and South America.
Their reproduction is carried out by elongated stem stems of the pseudobulb type, giving birth to from one to three leathery juicy pointed leaves. The height of plants, as a rule, does not exceed 25 centimeters.
The flowers are usually white, greenish-white or yellow-violet, solitary, or forming small inflorescences - few-flowered racemes, apical or lateral. The width of the flowers varies from 2.5 to 12.5 centimeters. The life of one flower depends on the species and lasts from 5 to 30 days. The petals of the flower, like the sepals, are elongated, narrow, sticking out in different directions. The lip of the flower is wide and often fringed.
Flowering is accompanied by a citrus aroma exuding at night, when the moth is awake, pollinating the orchids. No wonder the species "Brassavola nodosa" (Brassavola nodosa) is called "Lady of the Night" (Lady of the night).
The first tropical orchids that came to Holland in 1698 were orchids from the genus "Brassavola", the species "Brassavola nodosa" (Brassavola nodosa), which were brought from the island of Curacao, located in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea. The popularity of orchids in Europe began with this species.
Varieties
The genus Brassavola has 20 or slightly more plant species. Let's list some of them:
* Brassavola beam (lat. Brassavola fasciculata)
* Brassavola nodular (Latin Brassavola nodosa)
* Brassavola drooping (lat. Brassavola revoluta)
* Brassavola grandiflora (lat. Brassavola grandiflora)
* Brassavola subulate (Latin Brassavola subulifolia)
* Brassavola klobuchkovy (lat. Brassavola cucullata)
* Brassavola Gardner (lat. Brassavola gardneri).
Growing conditions
Orchids of the genus Brassavola can survive in low light conditions and humidity less than 40 percent. But those who dream of growing really beautiful plants should surround orchids with love and care.
For the roots to be thick and fleshy, and the leaves juicy and healthy, the plant should be provided with an air humidity of 60-70 percent. This can be accomplished by placing the flower pot in a moisture tray filled with a damp sponge or moss. After the growing season, watering is reduced, only maintaining the pseudobulb so that it does not turn into a shriveled creature.
The air temperature during the day should be maintained from 18 to 24 degrees Celsius, and at night not below plus 13 degrees.
Orchids of the genus Brassavola love bright light. Indicator of sufficient light is small red freckles that form on the surface of the leaves. If these are not observed, a sunnier place should be found for the plant.
