Finding

SITF has determined this plant to be of indeterminate hybrid origin, not Papiopedilum ooii (May 2025). This plant is not P. ooii, which has a smaller somewhat awkward looking flower. Harold Koopowitz's response was that it is a hybrid of P. ooii and any one of the polyfloral species. The dorsal sepal of P. ooii never stands upright, but folds over the pouch, the petals are always ribbon-thin, the pouch always looks like the pouch on P. kolopakingii, the staminode is always bone white (distinguishing it from a poor P. kolopKingii) and the inflorescence is too short and too well arranged to be P. ooii.

Finding

SITF confirms this plant as Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana (alba) (May 2025). With enlargement, the biseriate callus projecting just past the side lobes can be seen and the posterior callus covered with papillae and the apical linear raised pad of trichomes is as described and illustrated in Christenson's 2001 Phalaenopsis Monograph. I saw several white P. lueddemanniana on the internet, but all of the same cultivar. I could not find any other cultivars of this color, devoid of markings.

Finding

SITF confirms this plant as Angraecum aporoides (May 2025). There are four taxa in this section; three of them are distinguished based on the length of their spurs. Angraecum aporoides has the longest spur of all of the species at 0.7cm (also 0.7cm on this plant) and an ovary 0.7-0.8cm. (0.8cm on this plant) Angraecum bancoense has an ovary 0.5-0.6cm long and a spur of .25-.5cm. Angraecum distichum ovary 0.5-0.6 and spur 0.5-0.6cm. Angraecum podochiloides spur is .45-.6cm. The spur shape of A. aporoides is straight, narrowly cylindrical with a wide mouth, as with this plant. This plant also keys to A. aporoides based on the key by Droissart which was used in the previous award identification.

Finding

SITF confirms this plant as Lepanthes minetii (Apr 2025). This plant matches the original taxonomic description and the photos of L. minetii in the 'Pleurothallidinae" Volume 1, Issue 8 by Holcomb & Driessen found at: https://pleurothallidinae.com/volume-1%2C-issue-8.

Finding

SITF confirms that this plant is Dendrobium trankimianum (Apr 2025). This plant is an exact match to the Ron Parson's photo in the IOSPE and supporting photos in OW. It matches the photo in Dr. Yukawa's article in Researchgate: "In vitro propagation of the new orchid Dendrobium trankimianum", T. Yukawa August 2020, Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology.This plant matches the Drawing and description in the original taxonomic paper in the "Annals Tsukuba Botanical Garden 23: 21 (2004)" by T. Yukawa, including the unequal bilobed leaf apex shown in the photo.

Finding

SITF confirms this plant as Phalaenopsis bastianii f. helvola (Apr 2025). Although forma helvola is considered synonymous with P. bastianii by the POWO, it is published taxonomically and is a validly published color form. This plant has the sparse trichomes that are characteristic of P. bastianii, although not as long. The exhibitor stated that this plant was confirmed as this forma by Olaf Gruss, the describing taxonomist. Supporting photos which match this forma can be found in the orchidroots.com.

Finding

SITF confirms this plant as Cymbidium wadae (Apr 2025). The original description and drawing of C. wadae by Tomohisa Yukawa (Ann. Tsukuba Bot. Gard. 21:135), which matches this plant, can be found at: https://www.kahaku.go.jp/research/publication/tsukuba/download/21/ATBG21_135.pdf A key characteristic of C. wadae is the number of keels on the lip. C. wadae is most closely related to eburneum, but distinguishable by the cane-like, elongate stems, a greater number of leaves, much shorter and wider leaves, pale purplish pink sepals and petals, and the two keels on the labellum. There are two keels seen on this plant and that best matches C. wadae.

Finding

SITF confirms this plant is Lepanthes smaragdina (Mar 2025). This species is similar to Lepanthes ortiziana; however the distinguishing difference is that in L. ortiziana the lower part of the petals are falcate vs. upper lobes oblong, lower lobes not curved. L. smaragdina differs from the similar L. manabina in the broadly ovate, obtuse, tailless and not concave dorsal sepal and lateral sepals that are connate to form an ovate synsepal with an acute split apex. The type description, photo and drawing of L. smaragdina can be found at Orquideologia 19: 115 Luer & Escobar 1994. This plant matches the type drawing by Escobar and Luer.

Finding

SITF confirms this plant as Galeandra schmidtii (Apr 2025). This plant matches the photos in orchidroots.com, esp. Marni Turkel's enlargement of the distinctive hairy callus on the lip. It Matches the photos in the OW. It is a very good match to the video of G. schmidtii on GALEANDRA SCHMIDTII. #orquideas #orquideaslindas #catasetum #orquidario #orquidofilos #orquídeas.

Finding

SITF confirms this plant as Porpax extinctoria (Apr 2025). This plant is a good match to the plant identified by Pedersen in 2023: https://sitf.aos.org/sitf-blog/porpax-extinctoria-2023-07-17. The photos and description of the pseudobulbs are a good match. The photos show tufts of orange-red hairs on the lip which match this flower. The form of the flower also matches.