The Gongora Gallery

The amazing genus Gongora, was first recorded at the end of the 1700's by Spanish-Chilean botanists and explorers Ruiz & Pavon. It is one of the first orchid genera recorded by western man. The Gongora are found through out Central and South America from quite low elevations of almost sea level in Panama, and to as high as 1800m in the Andes Of Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, and a reportedly in Mexico. This diversity in geographical range and climate makes available the opportunity to grow at least some of these orchids in most climates, without too specialised conditions. This is quite a large genus these days and final numbers will most certainly pass 80. There have been many discoveries in the last 10 years from this genus and many other genra where new or revised forest have been opened. There is a reasonable number of living Gongora material which still has not been named, or on only a couple of occasions plants have died and all that remains are pickled or pressed flowers. It is as at a stage now where there is much controversy over what is considered to be a good Gongora species and what is not. It maybe a case where very expensive D.N.A. will contribute to the theroies of traditional botany (for those specializing in this field) to prove whether specialised botany is as knowledgeable and bonafide as it was during the 1800 and 1900's. However, there is much to learn and here is just a sample of what is available through the very extensive Oasis Gongora collection.