little balls of sap
 

Hi All,

I have an oncidium hybrid that yields lots (several spikes with 7 to 12
per spike) of brown-and-yellow flowers. The blooms give off a coconut
and dark chocolate smell in the mornings. It's a lovely orchid, and one
that I found for $12 at Trader Joe's, so it was a real steal. Anyway,
one thing that is strange are these little spheres of clear, sticky sap
that form at the joints of the branching spikes. Does anyone know what
purpose they serve?

I checked, and the scent does come form the blooms, not the sap. Also,
the plant is healthy (this is the second season I've had it) and
growing quickly, so I don't think it's a health issue. Would the sap
provide additional food for the pollinators? Or being a hybrid, is it
some weird mutant effect that serves no biological purpose? Just
wondering...

-Munir

little balls of sap
 

Honeydew, it's normal, if you taste it, it's sweet and a little like
the flower scent.

Jack

little balls of sap
 

Jack wrote:
Honeydew, it's normal, if you taste it, it's sweet and a little like
the flower scent.

Jack

--and attracts ants like.... honey. :) keep an eye out or you and it
will be overrun.

--j_a

little balls of sap
 

Sign of a happy healthy plant! But the ants do like it ... Kenni

"Munir" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi All,

I have an oncidium hybrid that yields lots (several spikes with 7 to 12
per spike) of brown-and-yellow flowers. The blooms give off a coconut
and dark chocolate smell in the mornings. It's a lovely orchid, and one
that I found for $12 at Trader Joe's, so it was a real steal. Anyway,
one thing that is strange are these little spheres of clear, sticky sap
that form at the joints of the branching spikes. Does anyone know what
purpose they serve?

I checked, and the scent does come form the blooms, not the sap. Also,
the plant is healthy (this is the second season I've had it) and
growing quickly, so I don't think it's a health issue. Would the sap
provide additional food for the pollinators? Or being a hybrid, is it
some weird mutant effect that serves no biological purpose? Just
wondering...

-Munir