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catasetum

Scientific Name: Catasetum

Family: Orchidaceae

Category: Monocot

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Catasetum, often abbreviated as Ctsm in the horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids known for their showy and unusual flowers.

Scientific Name: Catasetum Rich. ex Kunth
Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Cymbidieae
Subtribe: Catasetinae (includes related genera such as Clowesia, Cycnoches, Dressleria, and Mormodes)
Synonyms: Catasetum bungerothii N.E.Br 1886 and all varieties, Catasetum pileatum var album Gogn. 1902, Catasetum pileatum var aurantiacum Cogn 1895

Catasetum orchids are native to tropical America.
Specific locations mentioned include Mexico, Central America, South America (including Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela), and Trinidad.
They are often found as epiphytes in jungles, sometimes as terrestrials or rupicolous (growing on rocks).
One species, Catasetum sanguineum, is mentioned as growing in its native jungles of Colombia and Venezuela at elevations below 2,500 feet.

Catasetum are epiphytic orchids.
They are deciduous plants.
During the growing phase, they carry around six leaves from their pseudobulb.
The bloom spike emerges from the base or occasionally higher up the pseudobulb.
Flowers are often waxy.
Flowers are usually unisexual, either male or female (and look different). Rarely are they hermaphroditic. The type of flower produced is influenced by lighting conditions.

Catasetum orchids are known for their fascinating flowers that often have the peculiar habit of discharging their pollen masses (pollinia) onto insects. One article mentions that this orchid is famous for "attacking insects with its pollen."

Catasetum orchids interact with insects for pollination, forcibly discharging pollen onto them.