Trichocentrum

Trichocentrum is a newly formed genus from species formerly included in the Oncidium genus of orchids. The inflorescences of these plants are branched and with multiple flowers (less abundant than in the genus Oncidium). They are native to tropical America.

Description

Most have fleshy pseudobulbs, with long, thin leaves. Some have pencil-shaped leaves, while another group has dwarf fans of hard, trimer leaves. there is also another group made up of folded leaves with a leathery appearance. The flowers can be large or small depending on the species with long stems and although the flower is small they have a spectacular flowering of numerous flowers open at a time that lasts for several weeks.
Most species flower twice a year, however many hybrids can flower up to three times. The Trichocentrum can hybridize with other Oncidium species and even with other close genera, giving rise to intergeneric hybrids.

Distribution and habitat

The Trichocentrum is a genus of 69 species of orchids from tropical regions from Mexico to tropical America.

Etymology

Because the flowers resemble little ladies in full skirts just like Oncidium, these orchids were included in this genus for many years.
Oncidium comes from the Greek = "Onkos".
Olof Swartz, in 1800, gave them this name because they have a small callus located at the base of the lip that appears to be a wart, tumor, swelling in Greek = Onkos.
The name "Oncidium equinos" it is due to the shape of its tiny flowers resembling the head of a horse.

Trichocentrum species

Trichocentrum microchilum

1. Trichocentrum aguirrei (Königer) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 218 (2001)
2. Trichocentrum albococcineum Linden, Ann. Hort. Belge Étrangère 15: 103 (1865)
3. Trichocentrum andreanum (Cogn.) R.Jiménez & Carnevali, Icon. Orchid. 5-6: t. 697 (2002 publ. 2003)
4. Trichocentrum andrewsiae (R.Jiménez " Carnevali) R.Jiménez " Carnevali, Icon. Orchid. 5-6: ix (2002 publ. 2003)
5. Trichocentrum ascendens (Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
6. Trichocentrum aurisasinorum (Standl. & L.O.Williams) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
7. Trichocentrum bicallosum (Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
8. Trichocentrum binotii (Pabst) J.M.H.Shaw, Orchid Rev. 120(1297, Suppl.): 16 (2012)
9. Trichocentrum biorbiculare (Balam & Cetzal) R.Jiménez & Solano, Acta Bot. Mex. 97: 53 (2011)
10. Trichocentrum brachyceras Schltr, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 7: 184 (1920)
11. Trichocentrum brachyphyllum (Lindl.) R.Jiménez, Acta Bot. Mex. 97: 53 (2011)
12. Trichocentrum brandtiae Kraenzl, Bull. Herb. Boissier 5: 109 (1897)
13. Trichocentrum brenesii Schltr, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 19: 248 (1923)
14. Trichocentrum brevicalcaratum C.Schweinf., Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 13: 388 (1945)
15. Trichocentrum caloceras Endres & Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1871: 1257 (1871)
16. Trichocentrum candidum Lindl, Edwards's Bot. Reg. 29(Misc.): 9 (1843)
17. Trichocentrum capistratum Linden & Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1871: 1257 (1871)
18. Trichocentrum carthagenense (Jacq.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
19. Trichocentrum cavendishianum (Bateman) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
20. Trichocentrum cebolleta (Jacq.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
21. Trichocentrum cepula (Hoffmanns.) J.M.H.Shaw, Orchid Rev. 120(1297, Suppl.): 16 (2012)
22. Trichocentrum chrysops (Rchb.f.) Soto Arenas & R.Jiménez, Icon. Orchid. 5-6: ix (2002 publ. 2003)
23. Trichocentrum costaricense Mora-Ret. & Pupulin, Selbyana 15: 94 (1994)
24. Trichocentrum cymbiglossum Pupulin, Lindleyana 9: 51 (1994)
25. Trichocentrum dianthum Pupulin " Mora-Ret., Selbyana 15: 90 (1994)
26. Trichocentrum estrellense Pupulin " J.B.García, Lindleyana 10: 195 (1995)
27. Trichocentrum flavovirens (L.O.Williams) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
28. Trichocentrum fuscum Lindl, Edwards's Bot. Reg. 23: t. 1951 (1837)
29. Trichocentrum haematochilum (Lindl. & Paxton) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
30. Trichocentrum helicanthum (Kraenzl.) ined., Orchid Rev. 120(1297, Suppl.): 16 (2012)
31. Trichocentrum hoegei Rchb.f., Gard. Chron., n.s., 16: 717 (1881)
32. Trichocentrum ionopthalmum Rchb.f., Gard. Chron., n.s., 6: 100 (1876)
33. Trichocentrum johnii (Oppenheim) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
34. Trichocentrum jonesianum (Rchb.f.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
35. Trichocentrum lacerum (Lindl.) J.M.H.Shaw, Orchid Rev. 120(1297, Suppl.): 16 (2012)
36. Trichocentrum lanceanum (Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
37. Trichocentrum leeanum Rchb.f., Flora 69: 550 (1886)
38. Trichocentrum leptotifolium (Cetzal & Carnevali) R.Jiménez & Solano, Acta Bot. Mex. 97: 54 (2011)
39. Trichocentrum lindenii (Brongn.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
40. Trichocentrum longifolium (Lindl.) R.Jiménez, Acta Bot. Mex. 97: 54 (2011)
41. Trichocentrum lowii (Rolfe) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
42. Trichocentrum loyolicum Pupulin, Karremans G.Merino, Harvard Pap. Bot. 13: 220 (2008)
43. Trichocentrum luridum (Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
44. Trichocentrum margalefii (Hágsater) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 137 (2001)
45. Trichocentrum mattogrossense Hoehne, Relat. Commiss. Linhas Telegr. Estratég. Matto Grosso Amazonas 1: 55 (1910)
46. Trichocentrum microchilum (Bateman ex Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
47. Trichocentrum brunettei (Dodson & Luer) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
48. Trichocentrum nanum (Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
49. Trichocentrum nataliae (Balam & Carnevali) R.Jiménez & Solano, Acta Bot. Mex. 97: 54 (2011)
50. Trichocentrum neudeckeri Königer, Arcula 6: 175 (1996)
51. Trichocentrum nudum (Bateman ex Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
52. Trichocentrum obcordilabium Pupulin, Novon 8: 283 (1998)
53. Trichocentrum oestlundianum (L.O.Williams) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
54. Trichocentrum orthoplectron Rchb.f., Gard. Chron., n.s., 19: 562 (1883)
55. Trichocentrum panduratum C.Schweinf., Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 14: 104 (1945)
56. Trichocentrum pendulum (Carnevali & Cetzal) R.Jiménez & Solano, Acta Bot. Mex. 97: 54 (2011)
57. Trichocentrum pfavii Rchb.f., Gard. Chron., n.s., 16: 70 (1881)
58. Trichocentrum pinlii Lindl, Gard. Chron. 1854: 772 (1854)
59. Trichocentrum popowianum Königer, Arcula 6: 178 (1996)
60. Trichocentrum porphyrio Rchb.f., Ill. Hort. 31: 9 (1884)
61. Trichocentrum pulchrum Poepp. Endl., Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 2: 11 (1836)
62. Trichocentrum pumilum (Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
63. Trichocentrum purpureum Lindl. ex Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1854: 772 (1854)
64. Trichocentrum recurvum Lindl, Edwards's Bot. Reg. 29(Misc.): 9 (1843)
65. Trichocentrum Sierracaracolense (Cetzal & Balam) R.Jiménez & Solano, Acta Bot. Mex. 97: 54 (2011)
66. Trichocentrum splendidum (A.Rich. ex Duch.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
67. Trichocentrum sprucei (Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 218 (2001)
68. Trichocentrum stacyi (Garay) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
69. Trichocentrum stramineum (Bateman ex Lindl.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Lindleyana 16: 138 (2001)
70. Trichocentrum teaguei Christenson, Orchid Digest 61: 32 (1997)
71. Trichocentrum tenuiflorum Lindl, Paxton's Fl. Gard. 1: 12 (1850)
72. Trichocentrum tigrinum Linden & Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1869: 892 (1869)
73. Trichocentrum undulatum (Sw.) Ackerman & M.W.Chase, Lindleyana 16: 225 (2001)
74. Trichocentrum viridulum Pupulin, Novon 8: 285 (1998)
75. Trichocentrum wagneri Pupulin, Lindleyana 10: 203 (1995)
76. Trichocentrum yucatanense (Cetzal & Carnevali) R.Jiménez & Solano, Acta Bot. Mex. 97: 54 (2011)

Cultivation

They are adaptable plants that can be easily grown in a window facing east or west, even on a sheltered patio facing south in temperate climate zones.
Like other orchids, they require a certain degree of humidity and plenty of air movement. Irrigation should be in the morning to ensure the total evaporation of water from the leaves at nightfall. Preferably rain water or distilled water, but always with low alkalinity.
Most of the members of this family also require abundant light to flower properly, so in areas with little light during the flowering season they can be supplemented with light bulbs.
Remember that these orchids require dry, not soggy, soil between waterings.