Many years ago, I discovered a wonderful orchid which produces some of the most exotic lacy sprays of flowers in the orchid family. They are called
Odontoglossums and are very popular with many orchid hobbyists. One look at the flowers will show you why
Odontoglossums are so popular. The flowers may be white, yellow, brown, red, purple, or even be a blend of many colors. The blooms have ruffled sepals and petals. Some
Odontoglossums produce flower spikes over four feet tall!
Many of the species have nicknames that describe the flower or the scent. For example,
Rossioglossum (
Odontoglossum)
grande is called the Tiger Orchid because the name describes the unique striping and flower coloring.
Odontoglossum pulchellum is named the "Lily-of-the-Valley Orchid" because the flower and the fragrance reminds you of the Lily of the Valley flower.
Odontoglossum's natural habitats are in the South American Andes and Colombia, while others originated in the mountainous regions of Mexico and Central America.
Many of the species require cool
temperatures typically found in those regions, including the 2005 World Orchid Congress Gold Medalist
Odontoglossum crispum shown here.
in my 
