Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: Broad-Lipped Trigger Orchid, The Expansive Catasetum

Family: Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae (Orchid)

Distribution: Ecuador

Habitat: Dry forests; 65-4920ft (20-1500m)

Life form: Epiphytic

Fragrance: Turpentine (day); rye bread (night)

Dormancy: Winter

Bloom characteristics: Erect to arching inflorescence is up to 12" (30 cm) long with 3-5 flowers if male, and 5-15 cupped flowers if female. Hermaphroditic flowers, with both male and female flower parts can be produced. Flower is 3-4" (7.6-10 cm) across, and can range in color from yellow to green, or mottled with red spots.

Medicinal/pharmaceutical: In the coastal areas of Ecuador, the pseudobulbs of this orchid and C. macroglosom are used as a folk remedy called "suelda con suelda" (something like, "get well with a weld") which is used for bruises, fractures, and bone pain.

Plant size: 8-18" x 2-5" (20-46 x 5-13 cm), excluding inflorescence

Bloom Time (northern hemisphere): Year round; peaks in September

Pollination syndrome: Bee (Eulaema bomboides, Eulaema cingulata, Eulaema polychroma)

Foliage characteristics: Deciduous

Description: Catasetums are interesting in the orchid world for having separate male and female flowers, with a fascinating reproductive strategy. A male flower lures an orchid bee in with its intoxicating scent, the bee swoops in to collect the scent, and then bam! The flower catapults its pollinia onto the bee. The bee then eventually finds its way to a female flower, and the pollinia are deposited.
The Expansive Catasetum is a large orchid with color variable flowers which does just this.