Common Name: The Tube-Forming Physosiphon
Scented: no
Light Requirements: partial shade
Temperature Requirements: intermediate to cold
Blooms: mostly summer
Flower Size: 1 - 2cm
Synonyms: Epidendrum emarginatum Ruiz & Pav. 1798; Humboltia emarginata Pav. ex Lindl. 1830; Physosiphon carinatus Lindley 1838; Physosiphon guatemalensis Rolfe 1891; Physosiphon lindleyi Rolfe 1893; Physosiphon loddigesii Lindley 1838; Physosiphon moorei Rolfe 1896; Physosiphon ochraceus A Rich & Gal. 1845; Physosiphon tacanensis [Solano & Soto Arenas] Archila & Szlach. 2018; Pleurothallis emarginata Lindl. 1830; Pleurothallis tubata [Lodd.]Steud. 1841; Specklinia tubata (Lodd.) Luer 2005; Stelis emarginata (Lindl.) Soto Arenas & Solano 2002 publ. 2003; Stelis tacanensis Solano & Soto Arenas 2002 publ. 2003; *Stelis tubatus Lodd. 1830
Found in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua on oaks in wet or dry forests at elevations of 1800 up to 3500 meters as a small sized, cool to cold growing epiphytc species with erect or ascending, clustered, terete pseudobulbs subtended by scarious, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, suberect ot erect, elliptic-oblanceolate, fleshy, obtuse and minutely retuse apically, gradually narrows below into the elongate conduplicate, petiolate base leaf and blooms mostly in the summer on a terminal, arcuate, simple, longer than the leaf, 3 to 14" [7 to 35 cm] long, laxly many [100] flowered inflorescence that has scarious, tubular spathaceous bracts and simultaneously opening flowers.
Mount this species on tree fern or in small pots with tree fern fibre and give a cool moist environment with moderate indirect light and never allow to dry completely.