Laelia

Because once you understand this particular plant's habit, the mistake should make a lot more sense, and I think some of you may be saved from doing what I did.

[gentle music] So what is a catasetum? Catasetum is a genus of orchids that lives in Central and South America.

You'll find them from Mexico all the way down through Central America into South America into places like Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and also over in Trinidad and Tobago.

There are well over 100 species and also an even larger number of hybrids, both within the genus itself and also intergenerically within what we call the Catasetinae or Catasetum alliance group of plants.

The Catasetum alliance includes other genuses like Cycnoches, which are the swan orchids; Mormodes, which are sometimes called the goblin orchids.

They have these really bright colors and very interesting asymmetrical flowers.

Uh, the Clowesias, which were at one time categorized in the same genus as the Catasetum family but have what we call perfect flowers, so flowers with both female and male parts, which we'll talk about later.

That's very different compared to the catasetums.

The Cattleya fly, Isosoma orchidarum, first imported probably with Cattleya dowiana and frequently with other Cattleyas since, affects the new growths, the grubs causing them to swell and rendering the growth useless.

The same species, or one closely allied, also attacks the young roots of Cattleyas, Laelias, and their hybrids, causing unsightly galls on the points of the roots.

Fumigation with some safe preparation to destroy the fly should be carried out; and every young growth and root point, as soon as they are seen to be affected, should be cut off and burnt.

By adopting these remedies it is possible to get rid of the pest.

Satyrium, terrestrial orchids chiefly from South Africa needing greenhouse treatment.

The plants must be kept dry during the resting period.

Scomburgia, a strong growing genus requiring similar treatment to Laelias and Cattleyas.

The best position for them is a sunny situation in the intermediate house.