Chiloschista parishii (brown spotted)

Description

Chiloschista parishii is a leafless orchid from SE Asia that looks like a big mass of roots with flowers coming out of the center.  They are strangely easy to grow by watering regularly, and keeping them in intermediate light.  Although they prefer warm temperatures, mine are growing great going down to 55 degrees on winter nights.  The flower spikes are long, cascading from the center of the plant and sporting many wonderfully fragrant, almost buttercup-like flowers.  Chiloschista parishii has several color forms; this one out of Thailand is darker, almost brown with dark brown spots.  Unusual!

Chiloschista is a vandaceous genus of approximately 19 species native to SE Asia.  The genus name is from the Greek cheilos = “lip” and schistos = “cleft,” and it is closely related to the genus Sarcochilus.  Plants are typically leafless although they sometimes produce a couple tiny leaves.  Photosynthesis, then, is performed by the extensive root systems.  Grow mounted, intermediate to warm with plenty of water and moderate light.

Flowers occur on long inflorescences with showy, rounded petals and sepals.  I have found some to be wonderfully fragrant.  If you love roots and you can grow mounted orchids, you will LOVE this genus and find it very rewarding.