The Stanhopea Gallery

This is an amazing genus of about 60 species. All of which are distributed through the neotropics and scrub of Central and South America. This is another genus where there has been much controversy over the identity of many of the species. Once again, it is a case of where a dedicated botanist or taxonomist is required, who knows what he or she is doing, to work on these types of genera, and not to be revised by alpha botanists, who will lump everything into groups.

Or those that will split eveything due a minute variation in the lip, or a hair pointing in the opposite direction. There has to be a sound medium and a line drawn, which can only be accomplished by those who are specialising in this area with large living collections, as well as having access to herbarium material.

For those who are dedicated researchers of amazing, and at times confusing genera such as this, quite clearly realise there case, sometimes, these days needs to be backed up by d.n.a. Although to some of us, based on traditional botany, their individual status is quite clear. Most of the species in this genus are very easily grown, and there are only about 6-10 species, that need intermediate to warm conditions in winter. They make excellent landscape/garden plants, or very suitable to bush house culture on slabs or in hanging baskets.