Brassia Orchids, the Spider Orchids

Fast Facts Brassia Orchids

Botanical Name: Brassia (BRASS–ee-ah)
Abbreviation: Brs.
Common Name: Spider orchid
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Cymbidieae
Subtribe: Oncidiinae
Number of recognized species: 34 to 38 recognized orchid species
Origin: Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean area of Surinam, Brazil, and Bolivia.
Blooming season: Summer
Color: Brassia orchid plants can have flowers in spotted, bright orange, yellow, white, red, and other vibrant shades.
Growing classification: Epiphytes

Origin and History of Brassia Orchids

Brassia orchid genus was first officially described by Scottish botanist, Robert Brown, in 1813.

Composed of 34 to 38 recognized orchid species (varies depending on source), these orchid plants are native to parts of tropical America, such as Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean area, to Surinam, Brazil, and Bolivia. Brassia orchids are true blue tropical orchids that thrive in the rainforests of the Peruvian Andes Mountains.

He named the genus after William Brass, Esq., an esteemed botanical illustrator who collected the orchid plants for Sir Joseph Banks, an English naturalist, botanist, and patron of the natural sciences, in Guinea and South Africa. However, Brassia orchids are more popularly known as spider orchids because of the odd shape of its blooms that bear similarities with the insect.

Brown used Brassia maculate as the type species for the orchid genus.

Brassia Orchid Plant Description

Brassia orchid plants are epiphytes or kinds of plants that grow while anchored on other plants. It has a raceme kind of inflorescence with few to many flowers. They can sometimes produce two spikes per bulb.

Their orchid blooms are often large and come in spotted white, yellow, and light brown. Some sources say its orchid hybrids can bloom in vibrant shades of blotched orange, green, red. Flowers can last for many weeks and should be staked or supported properly.

Aptly nicknamed as spider orchids, they have extraordinarily long tepals that spread out like legs. This orchid plant can grow up to 50 centimeters tall.

How Brassia Orchids Are Pollinated

One of the most strangely interesting thing about Brassia orchids is the way they are pollinated. It is widely pollinated by a specific kind of wasp, the female members of the Pepsis and Campsomeris genera.

The lady wasps sting the column of the orchid plant almost trying to take it off and devour it. They do this stinging and tugging at the column and lip again and again, which results to the pollina sticking to their head. When they fly to another flower, the pollina falls off their head and enters the stigma of the plant.

List of Brassia Orchids Species

Brassia angusta Lindl. 1844
Brassia arachnoidea Barb. Rodr. 1877
Brassia arcuigera Rchb.f 1869
Brassia aurorae D.E.Benn. 1992
Brassia bidens Lindley 1844
Brassia brunnea Archila 1999
Brassia caudata (L.) Lindl. 1824
Brassia cauliformis C.Schweinf. 1946
Brassia chloroleuca Barb. Rodr. 1877
Brassia cochleata Knowles & Westc. 1838
Brassia cyrtopetala Schltr. 1912
Brassia filomenoi Schltr. 1921
Brassia forgetiana Sander 1910
Brassia gireoudiana Rchb. f. & Warsz. 1854
Brassia jipijapensis Dodson & N.H. Williams
Brassia koehlerorum Schltr. 1921
Brassia lanceana Lindley 1835
Brassia macrostachya Lindl. 1838
Brassia maculata R. Brown 1813
Brassia neglecta Rchb. f. 1856
Brassia pascoensis D.E.Benn. & Christenson 2001
Brassia peruviana Poepp. & Endl. 1838
Brassia pumila Lindley 1845
Brassia rhizomatosa Garay & Dunst. 1965
Brassia signata Rchb. f. 1881
Brassia suavissima Pupulin & Bogarín 2005
Brassia thyrsodes Rchb. f. 1868
Brassia transamazonica D.E.Benn. & Christenson 2001
Brassia verrucosa Lindley 1840
Brassia villosa Lindl. 1854
Brassia wageneri Rchb. f. 1845
Brassia warszewiczii Rchb. f. 1852

Orchid Care: How to Grow Brassia Orchids

As a tropical orchid, growing your own Brassia orchid plant in Los Angeles is possible. Experts recommend simulating rainforest conditions for your spider orchids to thrive and feel truly at home.

Follow these orchid care tips for your Brassia orchids:

How much light does Brassia orchid need?
Brassia orchids come from shady rainforests, so partial sunlight is highly recommended. As is true for most orchid plants, exposure to direct sunshine can burn or wilt its flowers and leaves.
How much and how frequent is its watering requirement?
Brassia orchids are used to a very moist environment. Water every two days and mist every morning. Never allow it to completely dry out.

Temperature and humidity
Orchids from the Brassia genus bloom better in warm tropical conditions. If you live somewhere where it’s bitter cold, this type of orchid is obviously not for you.
Should I feed my orchid?
Most orchid plants will do great with regular fertilization using a balanced orchid fertilizer at 20-20-20 ratio. The American Orchid Society reiterates the benefits of feeding your orchid weekly, weakly or in diluted portions.
How to pot Brassia orchids?

Brassia orchids are epiphytes, so they can be mounted on trees or barks. They also look stunning in hanging pots filled with well-draining orchid potting material, such as sphagnum moss or orchid bark mix.

Want to try your knack growing or taking care of orchid plants or flowers? Orchid Republic offers a wide range of floral subscriptions and same-day flower delivery in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Sources:

Orchids A to Z, American Orchid Society
Brassia, Jay's Internet Orchid Species