The Writhlington Orchid Project

Orchid Spotting

2011-10-26T17:50:00Z

Wild Collection

2011-10-24T11:04:00Z

We have just been to a place where they're keeping thousands of wild collected orchids, ready to sell… Really very shocking.

Updates from Laos

2011-10-24T11:03:00Z

As you all know some of our team are out in Laos and it is hard for them to update us. They are doing a very good job but they are mainly using twitter. Keep following the progress. Also they are putting a lot of pictures on Flickr.

Commissioning the Lab

2011-10-24T10:47:00Z

A toast to the new Paksong Laboratory! In our lovely new glass, of course!

Orchid Conservation in Paksong, Laos

2011-10-23T11:06:00Z

As readers of this blog will know, a group of students from the Writhlington School Orchid Project are currently working in Laos to help the Paksong Orchid Project conserve their amazing native orchids. To follow our progress more closely visit www.wsbeorchids.org.uk

Clay Hill

2011-06-09T21:00:00Z

Hi Zoe B here. Tomorrow after school we are going to clay hill to look for wild orchids and I will post pictures of what we find. (Hopefully lots).

Prosthechea prismatocarpa

2011-03-07T08:09:00Z

Hi Zoe B here. Prosthechea prismatocarpa grows in central America, in low cloud forest on large tree branches, and is found in our greenhouse in warm America. Its common name is ‘Prism-Shaped Seedpod Prosthechea’. It has long lasting, waxy, fragrant flowers.

Prosthechea radiata

2011-03-03T08:00:00Z

Hi Zoe B here. Prosthechea radiata is found in central and south America, and in our greenhouses grows in warm America. It is fragrant, heavy textured, and easy to grow with lovely cockleshell flowers. Its common name is ‘Lined Petal Prosthechea’

Prosthechea vespa

2011-02-28T16:05:00Z

Prosthechea vespa is an amazing orchid. It comes from South America, and can be found in Warm America in our greenhouse. It grows in shady areas, in humid substrates with moss and loose soil. There is also a Prosthechea vespa alba which has the same shape flower but it is plain white.

Prosthechea bulbosa

2011-02-28T15:55:00Z

Prosthechea bulbosa comes from central America and we grow it in Warm America. You may have noticed from the picture that it is another upside down orchid. It has many small, long lasting flowers that are very fragrant, smelling of lime.

Prosthechea baculus

2011-02-15T17:07:00Z

Hi Zoe B here. Prosthechea baculus grows in central and south America and, in our greenhouse, can be found in warm America. It has flowers quite like the Prosthechea cochleata but it only has two flower which are held back to back. This is where it gets its name. Like most Prosthecheas, it is another upside down orchid.

Sophronitis becomes Cattleya

2011-02-15T08:10:00Z

Hi Zoe B here. I am just saying that Sophronitis has become Cattleya. Sophronitis, like the Sophronitis coccinea has become Cattleya coccinea. It is the new recognised name.

Prosthechea vitellina

2011-02-14T16:24:00Z

Prosthechea vitellina, or the ‘York-Yellow Prosthechea’ comes from Mexico and is found in Warm America in our greenhouse. This orchid is also an epiphyte like the other two I have talked about.

Prosthechea garciana

2011-02-14T16:18:00Z

Staying with Prosthecheas, I am going to tell you about Prosthechea garciana. Like cochleata, this orchid is upside down (non-resupinate). However, garciana has a slight citrus fragrance. It comes from Mexico at around 1200m altitude and, in our greenhouse, is found in Warm America.

Prosthechea cochleata

2011-02-13T13:06:00Z

Zoe B here. I am going to start with Prosthechea cochleata, national flower of Belize. In Warm America, in our greenhouse, at least one of this plant is in flower at any time. This orchid is unusual because its lip is at the top of the flower, not the bottom like most orchids. Some other Prosthechea are the same, but not all. For this reason it is known as the upside-down orchid.