🌳 Habitat and Ecology
Gongora pardina is a medium-sized, pendent, pseudobulbous epiphyte native to the Andes of Ecuador and Peru. It is found in tropical moist to wet forests and montane cloud forests, typically at elevations between 300 and 2,000 metres. This orchid grows on trees in shaded, wet, and warm conditions. Like other Gongora species, its flowers are highly specialised, attracting male Euglossine (Orchid) bees for pollination via unique chemical scents (fragrance).
🌸 Description and Distinguishing Features
Commonly known as the Leopard Gongora (pardina refers to its leopard-like spotting), this orchid is a spectacular perennial.
Pseudobulbs & Foliage: It produces ovoid, deeply ribbed pseudobulbs topped by two large, thin, plicate (pleated) leaves.
Flowers (Morphology): The distinctive flowers are borne on long, basal, pendent inflorescences (spikes) that emerge from the base of the plant and grow downwards. The spike carries many complex, fleshy blooms, typically 10 to 20 flowers.
Aesthetics: The flowers are complex, often resembling a "horse-head" or "praying mantis" shape. They are typically yellow or yellowish-green and are heavily and conspicuously spotted with dark reddish-brown or purple. The complex, sculpted lip is fleshy. The flowers are strongly fragrant, often described as spicy.
💧 Cultivation and Care
Gongora pardina requires a warm, humid environment and must be grown in a hanging basket to allow its pendent flower spikes to emerge and descend freely. It is an intermediate to warm grower.
Light: Needs bright, indirect light (similar to Cattleya light); it should be shielded from harsh direct sun.
Substrate: Use an open, coarse, and free-draining epiphytic mix of bark, charcoal, and sphagnum moss.
Watering: Keep the medium evenly moist during active growth; do not let it dry out completely. Reduce watering slightly in winter.
Temperature: Requires stable warmth.
Optimal Daytime Temperature: 21-27 C (70-81 F).
Optimal Nighttime Temperature: A drop is beneficial, ideally 14-18 C (57-64 F).
Humidity: High humidity (60-80%+) and plentiful air movement are essential.
✨ Unique Features
This orchid is prized for its spectacular, cascading flower chains that are heavily spotted (leopard-like), contrasting sharply with its pale segments. The strong, exotic fragrance and the bizarre, intricate morphology make it a captivating specimen and a favourite subject for naturalists interested in bee pollination.
🏷️ Specifications
Plant Size: Flowering sized with 3+ pseudobulbs
Plant Family: Orchidaceae
Plant Passport: A Gongora pardina B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB
