Ophidionverified

Back to SITF Findings and Submissions

Dear Dr Luer and
SITF:

I received a CBR/AOS on a
plant of Ophidion dasyglossum.

I need to get it identified
by a taxonomic authority, so I thought I would ask you to do it, if you have
the time.

the award form says the
following:

Award # 20132745

Batavia O.S. Show 2/16/13

Ophidion dasyglossum

‘Silas’

Natural Spread 0.9cm/horiz. 0.9cm/vert.

Dorsal Sepal 0.7 1.4

Petal 0.9 1.4 (this is an error should be Lateral sepal)

Lateral Sepal --- ---

Lip --- ---

Description:

13cm x 13cm plant grown on a
13cm x 7cm cork slab; leaves lanceolate up to 5.5cm in length x 1cm in
width; inflorescense successive up to
6.5cm in length;

5 flowers and 2 buds on seven
inflorescences;

flowers translucent green,
heavily overlaid and mottled burgundy;
substance heavy; texture
glossy; sepals fused distally open windows similar to Zootrophion; horticultural synonym Phloeophila dasyglossa.

CBR/AOS signed
James Spatzek

I got the plant Sept. 2010
from Andrea Niesson/Orquideas del Valle.

there are 42 leaves, the
longest is 6.4cm x 1.2cm, the
smallest(mature) is 5.0cm x 0.7cm. the
ramicauls have 3 burgundy sheaths. The
leaf tips have 3 very sharp almost hairlike points(tips).the central one is the
finest. Inflorescences are sequential, 2
to 3 flowered. Ramicauls bloom more than once. Young leaves emerge with a reddish tint. The growth habit is caespitose. There are two sheaths, low and midway on the
inflorescense, and each flower also has a sheath to rise out of.

Ophidion dasyglossum (Luer & R.Escobar) Luer, Selbyana 7: 80 (1982).This name is a synonym.

Accepted Name:Phloeophila dasyglossa (Luer & R.Escobar) Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Lindleyana 16: 254 (2001).

Family:Orchidaceae Homotypic Synonyms:

* Cryptophoranthus dasyglossus Luer & R.Escobar, Orquideologia 14: 116 (1981).

Phloeophila dasyglossa (Luer & R.Escobar) Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Lindleyana 16: 254 (2001).

Dear Walter,

Thank you tor sending your Ophidion. I'm sorry you
spent $5. This is one of those variations with practically no hairs
(spicules) on the lip, but everything else is the same. How to handle it
is not obvious, but to be conservative for the moment, and with yours already
awarded as O. dasyglossum, I think I would stick with that name.
I will keep your specimen handy, in case these "hairs" are
significant in pollination.

Another problem is O. cunabulum. There could be
some ancient hybridization. I will let you know.

Carl Luer