Dracula Spike?

[dr_frnkblck]

Does anybody have a pic of what a starting Dracula spike looks like? I was checking the roots on my Dracula and as I moved the moss away I saw a couple root type things. However while the roots are smooth and consistent, these growths (for lack of a better word) are segmented. I'd take pics of what I mean but I can't get my camera to focus on them.

[Wendy]

Your description sounds like spikes but its hard to say without a photo. Spikes grow faster than roots so you will know fairly quickly...keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[kmarch]

Try a forum search for "Dracula". I remember seeing a couple of threads on them with lots of pictures.

[Marissa]

I do have photos at home that I can post later.

[Marissa]

Okay, I have this cheap camera so I can't get good photos either. Hope this helps

[patticake]

I hope it's a spike, Doc! That would be cool! Do yours look like Marissas?

[amersault]

Originally Posted by Marissa

Okay, I have this cheap camera so I can't get good photos either. Hope this helps

rats! in that case all i've got is leaves! thanks for clarifying

hey, Franco - is this what you have?

[bloomorchidguy]

Sorry I don't have any Dracula's currently in spike. But it is pretty easy to identify a spike over a root. The flower inflorescence grow either horizontally from the base of the plant or descend. Many of mine in the pass tend to have a bit of a fatten head at the end almost like a paint brush tip. They also tend to show some color something like a mixture of purple. If I remember correctly my plant parts this should help define better the location to look for a flower spike.

All members of the Pleurothallids group have thin stems (ramicauls) each topped with a single leaf. The ramicaul is a slender upright stem of variable length, some short and some are long. The junction between the leaf stem and the ramicaul can easily be located normally its necessary to remove the thin papery surrounding sheath. This reveals a small growth point at the bottom of the ramicaul. The sheath area is the abscission layer and this is were the leaves break off especially when plants are stressed. The place where the inflorescence arises is termed the annulus. This is found below the abscission layer and usually under the sheath material close to the base of the ramicaul. This usually always helped me in finding spikes verses roots and new growth.

Troy