I have just recently started collecting these strange little orchids, they are fasinating...but being so small, what a job to pollenate them

Pleurothallis grandiflora

http://home.telkomsa.net/thomasriver/images/orchids/pleurothallis_grandiflora.jpg

That is really strange looking! The flowers look very tiny, how small are they?

Each flower is about 1 cm (0.39 in) in length.

You need a miniature toothpick for those! Interestingly they remind me of something sitting on a lilly pad. :)

You also need a microscope to see them! :lol:

very cool pleuros!

very cool pleuros!

Thanks

I've also been trying to pollinate some Scaphosepalum Gideon. So far no takers.

I've had better luck with Restrepias.

Those bitty pleurothallid flowers are a strain on the eyes when you're trying to fish in that pollen.

Don't Sneeze!!

I've also been trying to pollinate some Scaphosepalum

I am going to have to get some of them.

I got lucky this time with a Zootrophion atropurpureum and a little Masdevallia pyxis, after giving up on them, both had 2 or 3 flowers that were ant pollinated, now I hope it was selfings and not cross pollination.

One of the things I find difficult is getting the Pleurothallis grandiflora's pollin to stick to the toothpick.

really strange flower.. nice one. :D

Gideon
If you dip your tooth pick into the stigma a bit you might get some sticky stuff to help hold pollen. Otherwise mist a little water on it.

Man I hate dropping tiny pollinia on the carpet :mad: :mad: :mad:

There's no sticky stuff, when you open the anther cap, the pollen drops. I have to put the plant into a bowl, and put paper over the growing media, otherwise it's history