SITF Submissions and Findings
The Species Identification Task Force receives submissions from orchid judging centers or exhibitors.
Rhipidoglossum rutilum Annie CCM 2024-12-02
Ludisia discolor
Finding
SITF cannot make a determination on this Challenge. SITF can only act on a Challenge that determines whether or not a plant is correctly identified, not whether an award is appropriate or not. Although SITF agrees that this plant probably does not meet the criteria for a Cultural Award, since there are no flowers open, it should probably go to the JC Judging Policy Task Force to deal with cultural awards to Jewel orchids.Coelogyne triplicatula Irene CBR 2024-11-16
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Coelogyne triplicatula (Dec 2024). The detailed, close-up photos of this plant match the key for C. triplicatula. This plant best fits C. triplicatula based on the lip margins. The cilia on this plant and C. triplicatula are very short, almost sawtooth-like, whereas, both C. fimbriata and C. ovalis margins are heavily fimbriated, with much longer cilia.Dendrobium tipula Irene CHM 2024-11-16
Epidendrum corymbosum Jardin botanique de Montréal CBR 2024-11-12
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Epidendrum corymbosum Ruiz & Pav. 1798 (Nov 2024). There are two entries listed for Epi. corymbosum in the Kew POWO. This plant matches Epi. corymbosum Ruiz & Pav 1798. The other entry for E. corymbosum Barb.Rodr. is a synonym for Epidendrum proligerum, which does not match this plant. This plant is an excellent match to the drawings and description of E. corymbosum in the Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum. It also matches the photos in the OW and the IOSPE.Dracula psittacina Demigorgon HCC-2024-11-06
Finding
SITF has determined that this plant is not Dracula psittacina (Nov 2024), but is an unknown species. Dracula psittacina is characterized by nearly linear leaves and clusters of small campanulate flowers held near and within the foliage. It is part of the erythrochaete complex. This flower does not match the description. SITF cannot make an accurate identification without better documentation; especially better detailed, focused, close-up photos of the flower characteristics. With better photography, SITF might be able to re-open the submission.Habenaria roebelenii The Extraordinary Joel Edwards CBR 2024-11-03
Finding
SITF has determined this plant to be Habenaria rhodocheila subsp. rhodocheila, not Habenaria roebelenii (Nov 2024). Kew POWO considers H. roebelenii to be synonymous with H. rhodocheila subsp. rhodocheila. This plant matches the photos of the red H. rhodocheila and Bakers' description in the OW.Mormodes tapoayensis Dark CHM 2024-11-01
Habenaria austrosinensis Longwood Gardens CHM 2024-11-01
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Habenaria austrosinensis (Nov 2024). The plant is an exact match to photos in the IOSPE and OW. The form of the sepals with the true apex pointing backwards and the front margins forming the pointed apices appear to be features of this species. It keys to Habenaria austrosinensis in the Habenaria article, "The Genus Habenaria (Orchidaceae) in Thailand" in the Thai Forest Bulletin, Special Issue: 7-105. 2009., SPECIAL ISSUE: 7–105. 2009. with "Spur cylindric and apically clavate, longer than the lateral sepals and Spur straight, pointing backwards. Petals linear."Maxillaria purpureolabia River Valley CBR 2024-10-28
Finding
Sitf confirms this plant as Maxillaria purpureolabia (Nov 2024). This plant is an excellent match to the photos and illustrations in Christenson's Maxillaria Monograph Vol. 2, including a distinctive, obscurely 3-lobed lip. The same drawing can be found in Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum, Plate 702 and in the IOSPE. The size of flower is a little small, but the flower form, color, and plant habit match M. purpureolabia.Dryadella elata J&L CHM 2024-10-24
Ancistrorhynchus metteniae Liam Gajan CBR 2024-10-19
Vanda brunnea Luciously Lemony AM 2024-10-19
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Vanda brunnea (Flava) (Nov 2024). There are no validly published color forms of brunnea; however, adding the color in parenthesis as (Flava) in the title helps in the Identification of this color type. Except for the color, it is an excellent fit for the awarded V. brunnea in the OP. The form of the plant matches Bakers' description of V. brunnea in the OW.Pleurothallis (Acianthera) panduripetala Bryon CBR 2024-10-13
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Acianthera panduripetala (Nov 2024). The flower form is a good match to A. panduripetala in the IOSPE; the Genus is accepted by Kew as Acianthera. The petals also match the drawing of the species in the IOSPE. The plant matches several photos in the orchidroots.com.Polystachya adansoniae Jardin botanique de Montréal CBR 2024-10-12
Finding
SITF confirms that this plant is Polystachya adansoniae (Dec 2024). This plant fits the picture and general description in "The Orchids of South Central Africa". It is not P. erythrocephala because of the unequally bilobed leaves and not P. stuhlmannii because that species has hairs on the outside of the sepals. These sepals are glabrous. It matches the key and Photo in Stewart's 1996, "Orchids of Kenya ('flowers pale green, lip edged purple); matches photos, descriptions and illustrations in Williamson's 1977, "Orchids of South Central Africa", in Balhema's 1983, "Orchids of Nigeria" and in LaCroix's 1991, "Orchids of Malawi" and in Pridgeon's 1992 "Encyclopedia of Orchids".Scaphosepalum swertiifolium 'Southern Pines Mustache' AM 2024-10-01
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Scaphosepalum swertiifolium (Oct 2024). S. swertiifolium and S. ursinum are the only species in the section with large sepaline pads and long caudae; however the rest of this flower doesn't fit the S. ursinum form. Illustrations and photos of S. swertiifolium and S. ursinum can be found in the IOSPE. These photos support S. swertiifolium over S. ursinum.Zootrophion gracilentum 'Jardin botanique de Montréal' CBR 2024-09-30
Stelis hallii 'Southern Pines Hallmark' CHM 2024-09-30
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
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Trichocentrum candidum (Nov 2024). This is an excellent match to the drawings and description in Volume II of F. Hamer's 1974, "The Orchids of El Salvador". The emarginate lip may be a distinctive characteristic. There are narratives, keys, and drawings that match this plant in, "A Revision of the Genus Trichocentrum" by Franco Pupulin published by Academia.edu on-line. Both POWO and IOSPE have photos of T. candidum. The protruding wings on this plant and the first flower of IOSPE's T. candidum, as well as, three photos in POWO appear correct.Dendrobium indivisum var indivisum 'Bryon Rinke' CHM 2024-09-28
Finding
SITF confirms this plant as Dendrobium indivisum var. indivisum (Dec 2024). The flower and plant form are good matches to indivisum var. indivisum with many good comparison photos which shows striping on the lip to be very similar to those on Orchidroots.com, although the striping can be somewhat variable, esp. in the lip. The flower size is acceptable, although a little large. This plant's flower and foliage closely matches the flower and plant photo in the IOSPE.Aeranthes virginalis 'Bryon' CBR 2024-09-28
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
Catasetum juruenense 'Justin' CHM 2024-09-25
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
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
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
Restrepia royi 'silas' CBR 2024-09-22
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
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
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
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