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Tolumnia Orchid
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Tolumnia Orchid

Tolumnia

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameTolumnia Orchid
DescriptionCharming miniature orchid featuring vibrant, intricately patterned flowers that resemble tiny dancing ladies in shades of red, pink, yellow, white, and purple, often with contrasting spots and markings. Compact plants with distinctive fan-shaped, equitant (overlapping) leaves rarely exceed 6 inches in height. Perfect for small spaces, these Caribbean natives produce disproportionately large, showy flowers on arching sprays that bloom sequentially for weeks.
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusTolumnia
TribeOncidiinae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral Formula% ⚥ P3+3 A1 G(3)

Bilaterally symmetrical, bisexual, 6 tepals in 2 whorls of 3 (3 sepals + 3 petals with one modified into lip), 1 stamen fused with style forming column, 3 fused carpels with inferior ovary typical of Orchidaceae

Features
  • Name 'Tolumnia' honors French botanist Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars. Formerly classified as Oncidium section Equitantia, now recognized as separate genus. Common name 'Dancing Lady' refers to flower shape resembling a woman in a full skirt
  • Flowers feature three sepals and three petals with a large, often frilly lip that dominates the bloom. Individual flowers measure 0.5-2 inches across, appearing in sprays of 5-20 blooms. Colors are vibrant with intricate spotting, barring, or splashing in contrasting hues
  • Epiphytic perennial with equitant (fan-shaped, overlapping) leaves that lack pseudobulbs for water storage. Blooms primarily spring through summer but can flower multiple times yearly. Each inflorescence blooms sequentially, extending flowering period
  • Compact plants grow 3-6 inches (7-15 cm) tall with flower spikes reaching 6-12 inches. Individual fans spread 2-4 inches wide. Lifespan of 5-10 years with proper care. Propagated by division of fans or from seed (keiki production rare)
  • Native to Caribbean islands including Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. Found growing on trees and rocks in warm, humid coastal forests and dry scrublands from sea level to 1,000 meters elevation
  • Requires bright light with some direct sun (morning or filtered). Prefers warm temperatures (65-85°F/18-29°C) and high humidity (50-70%). Best grown mounted on bark or tree fern with daily misting, as they have no water-storage organs
  • Ideal for small spaces, windowsills, and terrariums due to compact size. Flowers last 3-4 weeks on plant. Popular among apartment dwellers and orchid beginners for manageable size and relatively easy care despite lack of pseudobulbs

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificTolumnia
English (Alternate)Equitant Oncidium, Dancing Lady Orchid, and Caribbean Oncidium
Hindiटोलुम्निया ऑर्किड (Tolumniyā Orkiḍ)
Tamilடோலும்னியா ஆர்க்கிட் (Tōlumniyā Ārkiṭ)
Teluguటోలుమ్నియా ఆర్కిడ్ (Tōlumniyā Ārikiḍ)
Malayalamടോളുംനിയ ഓർക്കിഡ് (Tōluṁniya Ōrkiḍ)
Kannadaಟೋಲುಮ್ನಿಯಾ ಆರ್ಕಿಡ್ (Tōlumniyā Ārkiḍ)
Sanskritनृत्यपुष्पम् (Nṛtyapuṣpam)
Bengaliটোলুমনিয়া অর্কিড (Tōlumaniẏā arkiḍa)
Frenchorchidée tolumnia
Russianтолумния (tolumniya)
Spanishorquídea tolumnia
GermanTolumnia-Orchidee

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.