SITF Blog

Lepanthes-inescata-Yilary-CBR/AOS-2023-08-25 *SITF confirms that this plant is Lepanthes inescata (Aug 2023).

Plant was identified by Dr. Franco Pupulin as L. inescata. The photo of L. inescata in the IOSPE is a close match to this flower, although the leaf shape in the IOSPE photo is a wider cordate shape and the leaf on this plant is more narrowly cordate; however, this may be an artifact of photography.

Posted on Aug 25, 2023

This species was identified was Franco Pupulin who was on site.

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Dracula-saulii-2023-08-24 *SITF confirms that this plant is Dracula saulii (Aug 2023).

This plant exactly matches the description and findings of Dracula saulii 02-14-2023, award number 20234261. The key characteristic of D. saulii, besides the velutinous hairs covering the flower, is the unusual length of the dorsal cauda compared to the lateral caudae; in D. saulii, the dorsal tail is two to three times shorter than the length of the lateral tails. In this flower the dorsal sepal cauda is 4.2 cm and the lateral sepal caudae is 11.5 cm. D. saulii is also distinguished by its small size and narrowly linear, obtuse leaves. The only other species that appears close is D. adrianae, but all the caudae on D. adrianae are about the same length and it differs in its plant characteristics. This plant displays distinctive, reflexed segments and dense spicules on the surfaces of the segments as does D. saulii.

Posted on Aug 24, 2023

Description is as follows: "Nine flowers on nine up to 8.5-cm inflorescences with numerous emerging inflorescences; sepals broadly mucronate, dorsal fully recurved, synsepals recurved, sepals and cau...

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Specklinia-gersonii-2023-08-24 *SITF confirms that this plant is Specklinia gersonii (Aug 2023).

Identification was confirmed on-site by Dr. Franco Pupulin and Dr. Adam Karremans (one of the authors who published the taxonomic description). S. gersonii has obovate leaves and its related species are more linear. The color matches and the leaf shape agrees with the description; two photos of S. gersonii in the IOSPE also match this plant. Photos of the plant and flower in the OW are perfect matches, as well. Flower size seems slightly large.

Posted on Aug 24, 2023

This species is native to Costa Rica and the ID was confirmed by Franco Pupulin and Adam Karremans who were on site. Adam was one of the authors who published the description of Specklinia gersonii.&n...

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Scaphyglottis-pulchella-2023-08-24 *SITF confirms this that this plant is Scaphyglottis pulchella (Aug 2023).

Scaphyglottis pulchella and S. clavata are very similar; however, Scaphyglottis pulchella plants are almost reedstemmed, whereas those of S. clavata have distinctly swollen upper sections (Club-Shaped) and much broader leaves. Also, S. pulchella has larger flowers with larger, fatter sepals and petals and a wider lip. Supporting images are found in the IOSPE, orchidroots.com and the OW. Identification was confirmed as well by Dr. Franco Pupulin.

Posted on Aug 24, 2023

The ID was confirmed by Franco Pupulin who was on site. Scaphyglottis pulchella 'Caleb Emiliano' CHM/84   20236216Nineteen pendent, nodding flowers and one bud on 17 fasciculate inflore...

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Acianthera-cachensis-2023-08-22 *SITF has determined this plant to be Acianthera lepidota, not Acianthera cachensis (Nov 2023).

Identification was made with the assistance of Dr. Adam Karremans, the taxonomist of record for A. cachensis and a noted authority on Costa Rican Pleurothallids. Acianthera lepidota is from Costa Rica and Panama and is closely related to A. cachensis. Descriptions of these two species with photos are in Adam Karremans 2020 book "Pleurothallids Neotropical Jewels, Vol. 1". The purple veined leaves of A. lepidota and the flower form is a better match to this plant than is A. cachensis. A drawing and photo can also be found in the IOSPE, as Pleurothallis lepidota (a synonym).

Posted on Aug 22, 2023

The plant was identified by Franco Pupulin and is endemic to Costa Rica.

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Brassavola-cucullatta-2023-08-22 *SITF confirms that this plant is Brassavola cucullata (Aug 2023).

The main points in considering the differences between Brassavola cucullata and Brassavola appendiculata are that B. appendiculata is only found in Central America from Mexico to Nicaragua and not in the Caribbean. B. cucullata is found in South America from Colombia to Venezuela and in the Caribbean. Brassavola cucullata has eight pollinia and B. appendiculata has twelve pollinia. This plant was collected in the Caribbean (Trinidad) and has eight pollinia. It is a good example of a true B. cucullata.

Posted on Aug 22, 2023

Description is as follows: "Three ribbony flowers and five buds on four up to 3.5-cm inflorescences; sepals and petals long, ribbon-like, sharply acuminate, ivory, midrib very pale olive-green, faint...

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Paphiopedilum-leucochilum-2023-08-20 *Determined by SITF not to be Paphiopedilum leucochilum, but an unknown hybrid (Aug 2023).

Excess spotting on the lip and the pouch shape would indicate this plant is not P. leucochilum. The more or less pointed pouch would indicate probably P. bellatulum or P. concolor in the background and the staminode form would also indicate probably P. concolor. This plant likely has P. leucochilum, P. godefroyae, and maybe P. concolor or P. bellatulum in the background.

Posted on Aug 20, 2023

As stated in the final line of the description, multiple judges questioned the identity of the species.

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Cattleya-cardimii-2023-08-20 *SITF has determined this plant to be Cattleya bradei, not Cattleya cardimii (Aug 2023).

Withner describes C. cardimii with a photo (as Laelia cardimii) in his series "The Cattleyas and their Relatives Vol. 2-The Laelias". It carries three pale yellow flowers on a relatively tall, thin inflorescence with nearly 12 cm to the first flower. Cattleya bradei carries two to four flowers on much shorter inflorescences than C. cardimii on smaller plants like the plant in this submission. This is an excellent match to photos in the IOSPE, OW, orchidroots and the Withner book.

Posted on Aug 20, 2023

Description is as follows: "Three flowers and three buds on two 3-cm inflorescences emerging from the apex of 2-cm pseudobulbs, ovoid, erect, rigid; leaf fusiform, succulent, coriaceous; sepals and p...

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