SITF Blog

Phragmipedium-Mini-Grande-Shelley--CHALLENGE-2024-01-20 *SITF has determined this plant to be Phragmipedium Memoria Garren Weaver, not P. Mini-Grande (Jan 2024).
There is no evidence of P. humboldtii in this cross. P. humboldtii is very dominant in producing red coloration in the pouches of its progeny and that is completely absent in the pouch of this flower. With the probable parents of P. warszewiczianum x P. pearcei, this is P. Memoria Garren Weaver (AKA P. Andean Dream). Due to changes in synomomy, P. Memoria Garren Weaver and P. Andean Dream have the same parents; P. Memoria Garren Weaver, registered in 1994, is the older Grex name and should take precedence over P. Andean Dream, registered in 2013. Excellent photos of P. Memoria Garren Weaver which closely match this plant can be found in the orchidroots/Bluenanta.

Posted on Jan 20, 2024

This plant plainly used what was called Phrag. wallisii (now warszewiczianum) as one parent rather than humboldtii, making it the only awarded Phrag. Andean Dream. NO red coloration on the pouch whic...

Continue Reading

Oncidium-luteum-2024-01-13 *SITF confirms this plant is Oncidium luteum (Jan 2024).
Plant identification was confirmed at the judging session by the noted taxonomist, Dr. Franco Pupulin. The crest of this species consists of two flat blades that stick out 90 degrees and three tooth-like projections that point toward the midlobe. This is very distinctive and and clearly visible in the enlarged photo of the flower. A good image of this species can be seen in the IOSPE, which is almost identical to this flower.

Posted on Jan 13, 2024

Plant was verified by Franco Pupulin.

Continue Reading

Maxillaria-bicentenaria-2023-12-31 *SITF confirms that this plant is Maxillaria bicentenaria (Jan 2024).
This plant matches the description and photos of M. bicentenaria species in the Novataxa paper: "Species New to Science" novataxa.blogspot.com/2021/09/maxillaria-bicentenaria.html. The species is similar to M. pyhalae, but differs in the shape of the lip, callus and a keel-shaped ridge towards the top of the anther. There is an excellent article in Researchgate, "An Homage to Peru's Bicentenary Maxillaria bicentenaria orchidaceae, A New Species previously misidentified as M. pyhalae". This article has excellent photos, drawings and descriptions comparing and contrasting the two species.

Posted on Dec 31, 2023

Daniel Piedrahita, Country of origin Peru, previous identification provided by Kew Gardens. Pending SITF identification 66cm total length, upright climbing rhizome, one inflorescence per bulb, flower ...

Continue Reading

Maxillaria-crispiloba-2023-12-31 *SITF confirms that this plant is Maxillaria crispiloba (Jan 2024).
The species is recognized by Kew POWO with a front and side view of the flower which matches this plant; this species is very distinctive in form, color and crisping in the lip and does not match other species in its group. The name refers to the conspicuous crisping of the lip midlobe. The extent of crisping of the species is extremely variable. There is an excellent match of this flower to the photo in the IOSPE.

Posted on Dec 31, 2023

Continue Reading

Masdevallia-rimarima-alba-2023-12-31 *SITF confirms that this plant is Masdevallia rimarima-alba (Feb 2024).
This plant matches the type drawing shown in the IOSPE. The plant dimensions and leaf shape fit as does the size and general shape of the flower. The petals in the dissected flower also fit the shape shown in the drawing. M. hortilankesteriana is similar to this species, but differs by a more compact, vegetative habit, a more campanulate flower with longer and thicker sepaline tails and a narrower lip. This color form is less frequently seen than the typical cultivated form that has brighter striping and darker sepaline tails.

Posted on Dec 31, 2023

Continue Reading

Serapias-vomeracea-2023-12-26 *SITF confirms that this plant is Serapias vomeracea (Feb 2024).
S. lingua and S. vomeracea are very similar, the major difference is that S. vomeracea has two keels that are parallel down the midlobe of the lip to the apex. In S. lingua there is only one. Images of this plant appear to show a keel on either side of the midvein. Photos of S. vomeracea in orchidroots.com are a close match to this plant. The long, hairy lip is the distinquishing feature of S. vomeracea, the Long-Lipped tongue orchid. There is some variability in the colors of the flowers.

Posted on Dec 26, 2023

I have included the documentation as PDF documents in the images above.

Continue Reading
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10