Oeceoclades spathulifera (Snake Orchid)

• Cette plante poursuit compacte.
• Cette plante poursuit fleurir à la même branche de fleurs.
• Cette plante fleurit abondant.
• Cette plante fleurit très fréquemment.
• Cette plante grandit et fleurit très aisément dans la salle de séjour.
• Cette plante a des feuilles tacheté tres jolie.
• Cette plante est appropriée pour un terrarium.
• Cette plante demande une temperature ambiante.

• Attention! Des plantes et des orchidées sont des organismes vivants et ont besoin des bien soins.

Oeceoclades spathulifera is also called the 'Snake orchid'. This is because of the motif on the leaves and also because the colour adapts to the environment. The attractive brown-marked camouflage leaves adjust to those of the surrounding soil. Therefore they are difficult to recognize if they are not in bloom.

It is a remarkable plant that origins from a dry habitat. The plant is found in a small region in North and West Madagascar. Mainly in wooded mountain areas and on dunes on the coast. It grows in sandy and porous soil. The plant is pollinated by ants in nature.

The plant was first described by the French botanist Joseph Marie Henry Alfred Perrier de la Bâthie in 1935 as being: 'Eulophia spathulifera'. Perrier later transferred the species to the genus Lissochilus in 1941 and it was relocated to the genus Eulophidium by V.S. Summerhayes in 1957. It was adjusted to the genus Oeceoclades in 1976 by Leslie Andrew Garay and Peter Taylor when this genus was revised.

Oeceoclades spathulifera is related to Oeceoclades calcarata and Oeceoclades hebdingiana, but it can be distinguished by its long, spoon-shaped sepals/petals and the spherical spur. An adult plant has 2 to 3 leaves on top of the pseudo bulbs that slightly embrace the soil. The leathery, thick leaves get 4 to 10 cm long. The surface is glossy as if it is coated with clear varnish. The stripy leaves are green to dark green-purple with darker pink or green-blackish spots on the top.

This species blooms in late spring and early summer. The flower stems are 15 - 30 cm long and the flowers are 5 to 7.5 cm. The flowers are green and veined red. The sepals and petals are narrow and greenish yellow to olive green in colour. The inside is white with red-purple veins.

The plant needs a temperature between 16 and 26°C. Leaves will show better colours and markings under a clear to high level of light, but plants will also grow well in lower light levels. It is always important to build up the light level. If the light level is suddenly high, the plant may become dormant or even burn.

In Madagascar the plant grows in a thick layer of dead leaves on top of the ground, or in dead leaves on top of irregular piles of rocks. So there is good air circulation to the roots. We use a fine bark or moss as a substrate. Normal potting soil is not suitable because it remains too moist. By adding perlite to the soil, it dries faster.

In nature, the plant has a humid summer. So mimic this, but ensure proper air flow. Let the soil dry up occasionally and do not leave the plant wet for too long. In the winter, the natural area of this plant is quite dry, but not completely dry.