Maxillaria friedrichsthaliiThis is a small hot to cool growing epiphyte found across Central- to South America. It grows in wet montane forests from sea level and up to about 1000 meters and it would probably prefer a little warmer temperatures than what I am providing, but alas, it is blooming so it is not complaining too much. The flowers never quite open all the way and can apparently vary in both size and color. Mine are about 3 cm long, light lime to lemon colored and smell wonderfully of honey, quite strongly too. I am treated to a cluster of 5 flowers this time and they are held close to the mature pseudobulbs amid the leaves on very short stalks, called scapes.

Maxillaria is a large, diverse and rather under appreciated genus commonly referred to as spider orchids, although the scientific name comes from the Latin word maxilla which translates to jawbone. Most Maxillaria has a creeping growing habit and do best mounted. Some species can grow large very quickly with rampant growth but Max friedrichsthalii is not supposed to be one of the wildest ones and I hope to keep it contained to its EpiWeb slab  for some time. I grow it pretty close to the lights with the rest of my Maxillaria on the dryer side of the cool vivarium.