Oncidium
Dancing Lady Orchid Butterfly Orchid Dancing Doll Orchid

Scientific Name: Oncidium flexuosum
Family: Orchidaceae

Flower Language

  • dance with me
  • prettiness
  • amiability
  • beautiful eyes

Characteristics

Colors: yellow

Description

Oncidium is an orchid from Central and South America with about 400 species distributed worldwide. The characteristic labellum resembles butterflies or dancing ladies, hence called Dancing Lady Orchid. It produces numerous small yellow flowers on gracefully curved stems, making it popular as cut flowers. Growing as epiphytes attached to trees, they develop thin leaves from pseudobulbs. Their long-lasting flowers make them popular gifts.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'Oncidium' derives from tumor-like protrusion at base of labellum
  • Single flower stem can produce over 100 flowers
  • Cut flowers last 2-3 weeks
  • Pseudobulbs function as storage organs for water and nutrients

Uses

Ornamental