Botanical species of the genus Chiloschista, was described by the German botanist and orchidologist Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter (1872 - 1925) in 1919. The accepted synonyms for this species are Epidendrum pusillum J.König in A.J.Retzius 1791; *Limodorum pusillum Willd. 1805; Oeceoclades retzii Lindl 1833; Taeniophyllum pusillum (Willd.) Seidenf. & Ormerod 1995.
Considered one of the Chiloschista species with the smallest flowers, measuring about 7.5 mm, Chiloschista pusilla populates primary mountain forests in China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Vietnam, at altitudes between 300 and 1500 m. The growing sites are exclusively epiphytic, on tree branches in humid zones of intermediate jungles, between low and high altitude zones.
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A miniature species, fond of cooler climates compared to other representatives of the genus, Chiloschista pusilla frequently blooms in spring, with a few fragrant flowers arranged on a pendulous raceme stem of about 15 cm. The plant appears as a root ball formed of flat, long roots emerging from a very short central stem, on which oblong lanceolate leaves of about 1.3 cm length and 0.6 cm width with pointed tips and weakly developed petioles appear during the growth period and fall before the flowering period, which lasts from March to June. The small cup-shaped flowers, yellowish green in color, measure about 0.75 cm in diameter. The base of the petals and sepals is covered with woolly hairs. The oblong dorsal petal is concave, with a rounded apex and curved forward, forming a hood that covers the labellum and column, measuring 0.3 cm in length and 0.8 cm in width. The lateral petals, oval-shaped with blunt tips, are more or less oriented forward and slightly curved downward. The lower petals have blunt, rounded tips. The column is weakly developed, flattened, with a divided apex. The base of the labellum consists of short, hairy tubercles, and its disc, also covered with hairs, features a nodular callosity in the shape of the letter V.
For optimal growth, Chiloschista pusilla requires a light radiation level of 15000 – 25000 lux, preferring shadier positions with filtered or diffused light, and well ventilated.
Being a thermophilic species, the ideal summer temperatures will range between 26 – 28 ℃ during the day and 20 – 23 ℃ at night, with an amplitude of 5 – 6 ℃. The average temperatures during spring days range between 29 – 30 ℃ during the day and 18 – 22 ℃ at night, with a daily difference of 12 – 8 ℃. For the winter period, temperatures of 27 – 29 ℃ during the day and 17 – 19 ℃ at night are recommended, with a difference of 8 – 12 ℃.
The atmospheric humidity necessary to maintain this species will be around 80% throughout the year, the species requiring high values for this parameter.
Because this species does not produce leaves, photosynthesis is carried out at the root tissue level, which indicates the impossibility of cultivating this species or any other species of the genus Chiloschista in pots. Because it does not tolerate rough surfaces, it is recommended to mount Chiloschista pusilla specimens on bark plaques or smooth-textured wood fragments. Chiloschista species react poorly to handling, and often removing specimens from the growth support will lead to their loss. Usually, the grower will decide to mount the specimens from the seedling stage, after removal from the tissue culture environment (generally nutrient agar) and will position the plants on a support that will not be changed later. Performing these operations during the development of new root growth will ensure the plant's fixation to the support.
Irrigations will be abundant and frequent throughout the entire year, but during winter, for a period of 2 – 3 months, exceptionally in areas with a short photoperiod, they can be reduced, without however establishing a proper irrigation stop period. At most, it can be decided to delay watering by 2 – 3 days after root drying. Plants will be kept constantly moist during the growth period.
Fertilizations will be carried out during the active growth period with balanced fertilizers, but at dilutions of up to 25% of the doses recommended by the manufacturer. In the spring period and until mid-summer, a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content can be used, and from mid-summer until the end of autumn, fertilizers with a high phosphorus content will be used.
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