Oncidium hastilabium

Oncidium hastilabium is a beautiful species from the northern South American countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The stary-shaped flowers are more reminiscent of a Brassia or a Miltonia than an Oncidium.

The fragrant, long-lasting flowers are three inches across and produced on a tall, branching inflorescence. Unfortunately I did not get a whole plant shot in time for all the flowers to be in good condition, but this young plant produced a three foot spike with about thirty flowers. The photograph is one of the lower side branches.

The species grows intermediate to warm, and I grew it with my Paphs in fairly subdued light and lots of moisture and humidity and its done well. Its growing in a plastic pot of sphagnum moss.