Thursday, August 7, 2008

Nervilia aragoana Gaud.

An Interesting Terresterial Orchid

Tribe GASTRODIEAE Lindl., the Nervilia aragoana is a free flowering species and when grown altogether in a large pot, the cluster seems to be flowering all the time.

The single plant have its season and the flower will only appear after the large leaf dries off. It propagates via seed pods and its rhizomic shoots featuring a single, sometimes very large tuber.

It is common that this species hibernates for a period of 3-4 months.
The new leaves have purple spots but dissapears when fully grown.

The inflorescence is about 28cm tall bearing an average 5 greenish flowers with white hairy lip. Our discovery of this species was in the late 80s in Gua Musang, Kelantan while clearing our land for Cocoa plantings. We stopped and dug out this species to be planted on a reserved area. It has already overgrown its area during the entire period of 20 years.
It is very easy to grow here in Klang. It need 60% shading grown on slightly clayish soil topped with heavy leaf litter. It do not take kindly of chemicals especially fertilisers and fungicides.
We use only 'guano' (Bat droppings) every month. Sprinkling of fine limestones also helps for robust growth.

It can do well in shaded landscaping.