365 days of orchids – day 509 – Gomesa crispa
This is a Brazilian species that we found growing abundantly the forests around Macae de Cima in our expeditions in 2000 and 2005. Gomesa crispa is a pioneer species that is one of the first epiphytes to establish in regrowth forest as soon as humidity is high enough for moss to grow at the base of the trunks of young trees the plant will establish in this moss as a very low level epiphyte just 10cm off the ground. It also grows in more mature forest and in elfin forest on mountain ridges.
The flowers are a yellow/green colour but very attractively crisped (hence the name) and a healthy plant produces a very long spikes and usually two spikes from each bulb (see photo)
We grow this species successfully in both Cool Americas and Warm Americas but we find it does best grown in Warm Americas which is a little warmer and dryer than its natural habitat perhaps reflecting its liking for regrowth forest.
The photo here from our 2005 trip to Brazil shows the natural habitat for the species in relatively open regrowth forest with young trees.
Hi Simon
Please let me know if you have divisions or young plants of this
Thanks
Hi Simon and Agnes
Any news on the Gomesa Crispa divisions or seedlings, thanks
Hi Chris – we are struggling to get viable seed on our plants – we will try again next flowering. Simon
Hi Simon, good luck on this, but what an amazing plant and the scent from the flowers reminds me of crushed gooseberries. Have managed to get another species of Gomesa these are young seedlings and in a propagator at present until they are big enough to go with the adult orchids, again they are a light green and will have a sweet fragrance.