One of 31 species and the most widely distributed, O. maculata is found
growing wild in Florida, the West Indies, tropical Sth America, and
throughout tropical Africa from Senegal to Angola, Zimbabwe and
Tanzania. It mainly grows as a terrestrial and Pridgeon(1992) recommends
"a mix of equal parts by volume medium peat, loam, and sharp sand, with
a minimum winter temp. of 15-18C. Plants grow in heavy shade and require
only a short rest: water carefully as only a few thick roots are
produced."
The American Orchid Society Bulletin (1988) 57(9):960-971,972-975,989-
996 has a series of articles on Oeceoclades maculata and other species.
Stern(1988) found plants growing in leaf litter in dense shade under
oaks and pines near his house in Gainsville.(Probably escapes from his
glasshouse). They had been growing there for about 4 years and had
experienced winter frosts each year and survived with only a little leaf
damage. {How bad are frosts in Gainsville?} This seems to suggest that
they are probably hardier than is evident from Pridgeon's
recommendations which cover most of the genus.
Pridgeon A. 1992 (Ed.) What Orchid is That? Weldon Publishing, Sydney
ISBN 1 86302 194 9
Stern W.L. 1988 The long-distance dispersal of Oeceoclades maculata
Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 57:960-971.
Hope that this has been some help to you and that the plant does well as
it seems to be quite attractive.
David
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David McConachie | BOTANY,n. The science of vegetables--those that are not
329 Botanical Rd. | good to eat as well as those that are. It deals largely
Palmerston North. | with their flowers which are commonly badly designed,
New Zealand, 5301.| inartistic in colour, and ill-smelling.
| AMBROSE BIERCE, The Devil's Dictionary
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