A botanical species belonging to the subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Cymbidieae, subtribe Oncidiinae, Gomesa radicans was described by M.W.CHASE & N.H.WILLIAMS, Ann. Bot. (Oxford) 104: 398 (2009) and is also known by the synonyms Ornithophora quadricolor Barb. Rodr, assigned in 1864, Ornithophora radicans (Rchb. F) Garray & Pabst., in 1951, Sigmatostalix radicans Rchb. F. in 1882. The species was described by Robert Brown and named in honor of Dr. Bernardino Antonio Gomes, a Portuguese physician and botanist.
There may be more species than the 12 currently known, waiting to be discovered or requiring taxonomic and systematic clarifications. Gomesa radicans, initially included in the genus Ornithophora as its only species, was later included in the genus Gomesa following specialist revisions.
Gomesa radicans inhabits humid montane tropical forests at altitudes of 450 - 1300 m in coastal regions of Brazil and Argentina. Some species of the genus Gomesa can reach interior regions but will always prefer forests with high humidity along rivers, where they can occupy epiphytic or lithophytic habitats rich in organic material stored between pseudobulbs (these are well developed compared to the size of the specimens).
It is native to Brazil, first collected near Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, but also known near the coastal area, in the states of Santa Catarina, Parana, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Espirito Santo. A miniature, heat-loving species, it can reach a height of 23 cm, distinguished by narrow, thin, oblong-ligulate pseudobulbs, laterally compressed, which can reach lengths of about 5 cm, and on which a few basal sheaths bearing leaves are inserted. At the apical area of the bulbs, there are two other leaves, wedge-shaped, linear-ligulate, acute, membranous, up to 18 cm long, resembling blades of grass.
Gomesa radicans blooms in summer and autumn, forming long, thin, curved flower stalks up to 18 cm long, on which rare, small, fragrant flowers are inserted, measuring 0.6 - 1 cm from the tip of the dorsal petal to the lower edge of the labellum. The flower is colored white to whitish green, with a yellow labellum, sometimes accented with orange, while the dorsal area shows dark purple hues.
A species that loves moderate light, prefers light radiation intensities of 15000 - 23000 lux, but not direct light, rather filtered, accompanied by ensuring good ventilation.
Average temperature during summer days will be 29 - 31 °C, with minimums of 18 - 20 °C at night, while in winter, the daytime temperature will be 19 - 20 °C, with minimums of 9 - 10 °C at night.
The species prefers a high humidity, typical of native environmental conditions, requiring values to be within the range of 75 - 80%, but needing decreases to 65 - 70% during summer.
Due to the species' growth habit, it is exceptionally suitable for mounting on bark plaques, but in this case, it is necessary to ensure higher humidity levels and to administer daily leaf misting during summer days. The plants can also grow well in pots with reduced height or in wooden baskets with good drainage, provided with very loose substrate that allows rapid water drainage. It is very important that the substrate around the roots is not soaked with water, but also does not dry out completely, requiring frequent substrate changes to avoid its complete decomposition.
Dividing the plants is easy, achieving the best results when the start of new growth production is observed. Watering will be administered moderately to intensively throughout the year, with intensifications necessary during the growth period.
Fertilization - fertilizers will be used at 25 - 50% of the recommended dosage, with the possibility of administering either balanced ones or others rich in nitrogen from spring until mid-summer, followed by replacement with those rich in phosphorus until the end of autumn.
During the winter period, a rest period may be granted, slightly reducing the amount of water administered, especially in regions where the winter photoperiod shows significant reductions, but without allowing the plants or substrate to dry out completely, or the pseudobulbs to shrivel excessively. During this period, fertilization will be reduced or eliminated until the beginning of spring.
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