This pretty orchid last flowered in December and today’s photo shows a seed pod from December’s pollination and fresh flower spikes from the same leaf axils as flowered in December.

It is interesting to note the large size of the seed pod from such small flowers. We can expect hundreds of thousands of seed when the seed pod ripens in around another 4-6 months

Gastorchilus sororius is similar to Gastrochilus calceolus (below) but has thicker leaves and shorter more compact flower spikes with slightly different lips.

Gastrochilus is a lovely genus related to Vanda and all species have interesting small flowers produced is profusion. We have seen Gastrochilus species flowering in cool monsoon forests in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and they can be found across the Himalayas and South East Asia. Gastrochilus sororius is restricted to Borneo, Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi where it grows in warm forests from 1200-1550m altitude.

We grow the species in our Warm Asia section where it enjoys regular watering but very good drainage or the roots are short lived. Gastrochilus species have the advantage of flowering as young plants (as we have seen in their native forests) and in cultivation can make great specimen plants.