Finding

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.

Inflorescence Overall Length: 8.5

Inflorescence Arrangement: Succesive

Flower Natural Spread Length: 8.5

Flower Natural Spread Width: 12.5

Dorsal Sepal Length: 1.7

Dorsal Sepal Width: 4.2

Lateral Sepals Length: 1.2

Lateral Sepals Width: 11.5

Judging Center: Hawaii-Hilo

Award Number: 20223866

Award Date: December 10, 2022

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 caudae cordovan, cream suffusion throughout, obverse sericeous, light cordovan suffusion basally, cream suffusion distally, distinct cream spot abaxial basally; petals minute, folded centrally, sericeous, dark cordovan; lip broadly spatulate, margin obcurved, cream, margin faint cordovan suffusion; column white; substance very firm; texture glossy; petals and lip too minute to measure."Plant received an 86 pt. CHM.

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