SITF Submissions and Findings

The Species Identification Task Force receives submissions from orchid judging centers or exhibitors.

Ancistrorhynchus metteniae Liam Gajan CBR 2024-10-19
Posted on October 19, 2024
Vanda-brunnea-Luciously Lemony-AM-2024-10-19
Posted on October 19, 2024
Pleurothallis (Acianthera)-panduripetala-Bryon-CBR-2024-10-13
Posted on October 13, 2024
Polystachya adansoniae Jardin botanique de Montréal CBR 2024-10-12
Posted on October 12, 2024
Scaphosepalum swertiifolium 'Southern Pines Mustache' AM 2024-10-01
Posted on October 01, 2024
Zootrophion gracilentum 'Jardin botanique de Montréal' CBR 2024-09-30
Posted on September 30, 2024
Stelis hallii 'Southern Pines Hallmark' CHM 2024-09-30
Posted on September 30, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Stelis hallii (Oct 2024). The fractiflex (Zigzagged) inflorescence in the last photo matches S. hallii. Matches three photos in the orchidroots.com and an excellent photo and two illustrations in the IOSPE.
Trichocentrum candidum 'Little Evenstar' HCC 2024-09-28
Posted on September 28, 2024
Dendrobium indivisum var indivisum 'Bryon Rinke' CHM 2024-09-28
Posted on September 28, 2024
Aeranthes virginalis 'Bryon' CBR 2024-09-28
Posted on September 28, 2024
Finding
SITF has determined this plant to be Aeranthes grandiflora, not Aeranthes virginalis (Oct 2024). Johan Hermans, a noted botanist in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, an expert in this genus, has identified this plant as A. grandiflora. He said that A. virginalis cannot be mistaken for any other species because of the crossed sepals (crossing in front of the lip making it unmistakable) and more, importantly, the formation of plantlets that occur along the inflorescence; the only species in the genus that forms such plantlets. This plantlet formation starts very early in the development of the inflorescence, usually before the first bud opens. This plant does not exhibit either of these two key characteristics. Kew POWO lists two entries for A. grandiflora. A. grandiflora (Lindl. 1833) is synonymous with A. arachnites and is not this flower. A. grandiflora (Lindl. 1844) is accepted by Kew and matches this flower.
Catasetum cucutaense 'Julie' CBR 2024-09-27
Posted on September 27, 2024
Catasetum juruenense 'Justin' CHM 2024-09-25
Posted on September 25, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Catasetum juruenense (Oct 2024). Closely matches the photos of Ctsm. juruenense in the OW. It is a good match to the photograph in Holst's, "The World of Catasetums". This species considered to be similar to Ctsm. callosum. The flower form matches that of Ctsm. juruenense and the flower size is in range, as well as the leaf size and number of leaves per pseudobulb according to Bakers' description in the OW.
Galeandra schunkii 'Sasha' CBR 2024-09-23
Posted on September 23, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Galeandra schunkii (Sep 2024). This plant matches photos in the OW and the orchidroots.com and a photo of the G. schunkii awarded in Brazil in 2015, 1ST/CAOB, as seen in the OW. It is an excellent match to the photos in Richardiana 9:64 (2009).
Acanthophippium eburneum 'Liam Gajan' CBR 2024-09-23
Posted on September 23, 2024
Finding
SITF has determined this plant to be Acanthophippium curtisii, not A. eburneum (Sep 2024). Drawings of A. curtisii on the IOSPE match this plant better than the A. eburneum drawing. In the "Gardener's Chronicle" the description of A. eburneum is compared with A. curtisii. The differences include: A. eburneum's perianth is ivory-white; that of curtisii is rose-colored; the lip of eburneum is almost unilobed with the side lobes barely resolved from the midlobe; that of curtisii is distinctly trilobed, as is this plant; the crest in eburneum consists of a single, sharp trianglar line while that of curtisii is more complex with five keels. This disk is clearly does not have a single triangular line. Both species are found in Borneo.
Dendrobium lankaviense 'Irene' CBR 2024-09-22
Posted on September 22, 2024
Restrepia royi 'silas' CBR 2024-09-22
Posted on September 22, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Restrepia royi (Sep 2024). One of the defining characteristics of this species is the lip, which when viewed from the side, looks like a child's slide or a swimming pool slide. This feature can be seen in the profile photo of this plant. This species was recently described in 2023 by Kevin Holcomb and Wiel Driessen. The measurements appear correct. The convex epichile of the lip is considered a distinguishing feature in their description.
Lepanthes tonduziana Simeón CHM-2024-09-13
Posted on September 13, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Lepanthes tonduziana (Sep 2024). This plant has been identified by Franco Pupulin as Lepanthes tonduziana. The flower size is in range. The form matches the photo and drawing of L. tonduziana in the IOSPE; The plant can be seen as a single flowered, successive bloomer on the back of the leaf in the plant photo which matches the description of Lepanthes tonduziana in the IOSPE. It also matches two photos in the orchidroots.com.
Muscarella fimbriata Mónica CHM 2024-09-12
Posted on September 12, 2024
Finding
SITF has determined this plant to be Pleurothallis setosa, not Muscarella fimbriata (Sep 2024). Franco Pupulin has identified this plant as Andreettaea fimbriata; he transferred Muscarella fimbriata to Andreettaea fimbriata, published in Lankesteriana 2023, Supplement 43, but Muscarella fimbriata is considered by Kew to be a later synonym of Plths. setosa. To date, Kew has not accepted Andreettaea fimbriata. This plant matches Luer's drawing and photos of Plths. setosa in the IOSPE.
Stereochilus xiaoi J&L CHM 2024-09-05
Posted on September 05, 2024
Dracula tubeana Challenge Stacey Lee HCC-2024-09-01
Posted on September 01, 2024
Finding
SITF has determined this plant to be Dracula chimaera, not Dracula tubeana (Sep 2024). This plant was originally awarded as Dracula tarantula which was then recognized as Dracula tubeana in Sept 2020. It was challenged as D. chimaera which fits the description better than D. tubeana based on is shape, coloration, and fixed lip. Also, Dracula tubeana has a very distinct color pattern that is different from this plant which does fit D. chimaera.
Stelis luz-marinae Memoria Iris Villalobos CHM 2024-08-26
Posted on August 26, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Stelis luz-marinae (Sep 2024). This species was described in "A new species of Stelis subgen. Unciferia (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from Costa Rica by Gustavo Rojas-Alvarado in the Phytotaxa Article published in 2023. This plant matches the species, S. luz-marinae, as described in the article and identified by the taxonomist Dr. Franco Pupulin.
Pleurothallis (Acianthera) panduripetala Bryon CBR 2024-08-25
Posted on August 25, 2024
Finding
This award was nullified by the AOS (Aug 2024).
Aeranthes virginalis Bryon CBR 2024-08-25
Posted on August 25, 2024
Finding
This award was nullified by the AOS.
Paphiopedilum coccineum Bubford JC 2024-08-17
Posted on August 17, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Paphiopedilum coccineum (Aug 2024). This plant matches the form of P. coccineum. The staminode and boss (protuberant part, a round swelling part, a knoblike process) are an excellent match to the photo in Oakley & Braem's Paph Species: The Essential Guide. The light color is not a taxonomically named color form and does not need to be specified in the title.
Schoenorchis tixieri Lissabug CBR 2024-08-17
Posted on August 17, 2024
Epidendrum splendens Irene CHM 2024-08-17
Posted on August 17, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Epidendrum splendens (Aug 2024). It is a larger flower in the Epi. secundum group, resupinate, and spherical inflorescence. The lip matches, including the crests. This plant matches the description and photo of Epi. splendens in the article in the Species Orchidacearum - Icones Colombianae, Epidendrum splendens. The strongly fimbriate lip lobes, long claw between midlobe and side lobes, the long, plate-like pointed crest running from the base of the lip all along the claw and the large lobe-like crests on either side at the base all fit.
Prosthechea pachysepala Irene CHM 2024-08-17
Posted on August 17, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Prosthechea pachysepala (Sep 2024). This plant is almost an identical match to the photo of Prosthechea pachysepala identified by Cassio Vandenberg in the website inaturalist.org. The POWO herbarium specimen and photo match this plant and the photo in the IOSPE of Prosthechea pachysepala with good resolution and focus closely matches this plant.
Phalaenopsis bellina (Coerulea) Blue Ridge Royal AM 2024-08-17
Posted on August 17, 2024
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Phalaenopsis bellina F. caerulea (Aug 2024). Although it is considered a synonym in POWO, forma caerulea is a taxonomically valid forma first published by O. Gruss et.al. in Orchidee, 2017. This plant matches the description and photos for Phal. bellina forma caerulea in that publication and should be used in the description for this plant.
Stanhopea x horichiana Manuel Jimenez CHM 2024-08-09
Posted on August 09, 2024
Trichocentrum pupulinianum Amigo Franco CHM 2024-07-25
Posted on July 25, 2024
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