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Oncidium is a genus of orchids in the family Orchidaceae, comprising about 300 species. It is better known as the Dancing Ladies, and constitute one of the most important genera among amateur growers. Oncidium are native to Central America, and have adapted to a wide range of habitats, from mountainous rainforests to lowland swamps. Most species that occur in open areas are as epiphytes on trees or rocks, and also as terrestrials in grassland. Oncidium prefers to grow on the dry side, and the roots must not be allowed to be waterlogged.
Oncidium are sympodial orchids, with most species have large, flattened pseudobulbs bearing 1-3 flattened leaves on top. Oncidium flowers are easily recognizable by their large, frill-edged widespread lip and surmounted by a complex callus, the distinctive feature of Oncidium. Oncidium flowers usually have petals that are small and outstretched, like the head and arms of a dancing lady. The flowers, which come in a wide range of colors except blue, are borne on long, slim racemes, usually in large number on large, branching inflorescences.
Oncidium ornithorrhynchum, 15 cm tall, is an evergreen, epiphytes orchid with narrowly oval leaves, 10 cm long. In autumn, it bears dense, arching sprays of fragrant, rose-lilac colored flowers, 0.5 cm across. This species requires semi-shade in summer.
Oncidium papilio is an orchid native to Trinidad, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. It thrives in all wet, tropical lowland areas with an altitude of up to 700m. O. Papilio has butter-fly shaped, frill-edged flowers and are borne singly at the end of a 40 cm long, slender rachis which continues to flower for years. Single bloom appearing in succession to replace the ones that have faded. The flowers are 12-15 cm tall, with erect dorsal sepal and petals, stiff, thin and slightly curved terminally , somewhat like the anthennae of a large insect.
