Catasetum Alliance

(pronounced: cat-a-SEE-tum)

(click an image above to view the close-up gallery with name and award granted for each orchid pictured)

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Overview

The Catasetum Alliance currently consists of seven genera, Catasetum, Clowesia, Cycnoches, Dressleria, Galeandra, Grobya, and Mormodes. Catasetum and Cycnoches share an apparently unique feature in the orchid family in that these plants produce unisexual flowers. In many species, the male and female flowers may be so remarkably different in color and appearance to have been given two different taxonomic names by early taxonomists. Mormodes produce perfect flowers (having both male and female reproductive structures) however the respective parts mature at different times preventing self-fertilization. The remaining genera produce perfect flowers. All are pollinated by Euglossine bees.

All but Dressleria and Grobya are common in today’s orchid collections as are their intergeneric hybrids.

Care & Culture Sheet

A detailed Care & Culture Sheet for the genus can be found by clicking the link(s) below or scanning the QR Code; however, this sheet may not be representative of all plants in this alliance or genus.