Catasetum macrocarpum is native to the Caribbean and South America, where its distribution extends from Trinidad and Tobago to Argentina. It grows on trees (often dead trees) from sea level to almost 1200 meters, though typically associated with hot, tropical lowlands.
Catasetum macrocarpum also called as Monk's Head Orchid, The Monkey Goblet, Large-Fruited Catasetum, Catachaetum claveringii, Catasetum clavingii, Catasetum floribundum, Catasetum grandis, Catasetum linguiferum, Catasetum macrocarpum var amplissimum, Catasetum macrocarpum var bellum, Catasetum macrocarpum var brevifolium, Catasetum macrocarpum var carnosissimum, Catasetum macrocarpum var chrysanthum, Catasetum macrocarpum var clavingerii, Catasetum macrocarpum var genuinum, Catasetum macrocarpum var globoso-connivens, Catasetum macrocarpum var. mechelyncki, Catasetum macrocarpum var. pallidum, Catasetum macrocarpum var. unidentatum, Catasetum macrocarpum var. viridi-purpureum, Catasetum macrocarpum var. viridi-sanguineum, Catasetum menthaedorum, Catasetum tricolor, Catasetum tridentatum, Catasetum tridentatum var. mechelynckii, Catasetum tridentatum var. viridiflorum, Cypripedium cothurnum, Monachanthus viridis, Paphiopedilum cothurnum, is a species of the genus Catasetum. This species was described by Louis Claude Richard ex Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1822.
IDENTIFY CATASETUM MACROCARPUM ORCHID PLANT
Catasetum macrocarpum is native to the Caribbean and South America, where its distribution extends from Trinidad and Tobago to Argentina. It grows on trees (often dead trees) from sea level to almost 1200 meters, though typically associated with hot, tropical lowlands.
Large-Fruited Catasetum is a large sized, hot to cool growing epiphytic plant with conical-fusiform, 16 cm long and 2 cm wide pseudobulbs enveloped by several leaf bearing sheaths carrying 5 to 7 oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, to 42 cm long and 6.5 cm wide leaves.
Monk's Head Orchid bloom in the late summer and fall on a basal, erect or arching, 45 cm long, racemose inflorescence arising on a mature pseudobulb before leaf fall that has up to 10, fleshy flowers that do not open well and has a fragrance of anise. The male flowers are 7.5 cm in diameter with coloration of peduncle green, lighter towards the apex; pedicels green; sepals green, unspotted, indistinctly veined longitudinally; petals green with prominent dark red-brown spotting, heavier towards the base; lip sac green outside, very dark green inside; lateral lobes yellow to chartreuse inside and out; midlobe deep yellow; column pale chartreuse, with fine red-brown speckling on the anther. The female flowers similar to males, but 38 in number, extremely fleshy with column short and stout; stigmatic cavity narrow, and no antennae.
The key to identify The Monkey Goblet is its sepals and petals typically folded together and embracing the lip in almost tuliplike fashion. It often confused with Catasetum maculatum, but distinguished by the reflexed and smooth margins of the lip and by (usually) a raised, fleshy apex on the midlobe. The configuration of the protuberance at the apex varies considerably, so it is not critical to identification.
CATASETUM MACROCARPUM ORCHID PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Catasetum macrocarpum are sun-loving plant and needs a light level of 30000-60000 lux. Unless the strong air movement found in the natural habitat can be duplicated, however, the grower should provide some shade (40-60 % shade). This species can be grown under lights if sufficient light intensity can be provided, and the plant certainly can be summered outdoors if their moisture requirements can be met.
Temperature:
In their natural habitat, the climate is evenly hot, moist, and tropical. This climate is almost the same year-round, with high humidity at night, even in the dry season, which is relatively short. The nighttime temperatures rarely fall below 18°C, with daytime highs generally from 29 to 35°C. The important thing is to maintain evenly warm conditions, and for this orchid the closer the night minimum is to 21°C, the better the plants will respond.
The small-flowered population from Bahia State, Brazil, that grows in tropical to subtropical, with dry, near desert-like conditions. It has an even longer dry season and low humidity almost year-round. Most of the moisture results from nighttime dews. Temperatures range from a maximum 40°C to a minimum 15°C. In cultivation, 18°C is the ideal minimum night temperature.
Humidity:
Large-Fruited Catasetum tolerate an environment with 40 - 60 % relative humidity during their growing season, but for optimal development of new growth and flowering, 70 % is recommended.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Catasetum macrocarpum can be grown in pot, container or wooden basket with fir bark, osmunda, tree fern fiber, charcoal, and sphagnum, in various proportions or combined with still other ingredients such as sponge rock, perlite, leaf mold, peat, and bark screenings as substrate. This species does not flower well when potted conventionally and should be grown in a basket.
It is recommended to repot every year and never wait more than two years. The optimal time for potting or repotting is when new growth on a plant emerging from dormancy is about 5 cm tall and the nubs have developed into new roots that are reaching for support.
Watering:
In its natural habitat it receives rainfall frequently even while dormant. Basket-grown, and unconventionally potted plant may be watered every sunny day during the growing season, provided conditions are such that they dry off relatively quickly.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize with an appropriate formulation at least every week during the growing season, or fertilize with a weak formula every time the plants are watered. It is important to begin regular applications of high-nitrogen fertilizer (such as 10-5-5) with a full range of trace elements. As the leaves begin to unfurl, and well before flowering, add a high-phosphorus formula to develop big, strong pseudobulbs capable of producing robust inflorescences. Any of the soluble products with a large second-digit number (for example, 3-12-6) constitute a good source of phosphorus.
Rest period:
When the Catasetum macrocarpum plants are leafless and no new growths are visible, the grower must respect their state of dormancy. Watering frequency should be reduced during dormancy. Fertilization should stop completely during this period. In the springtime, at the beginning of the growth cycle, water should not be made regularly available for the newly developing roots until the new growth is at least 5 cm tall.
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