The American Orchid Society

SITF Submissions and Findings

The Species Identification Task Force receives submissions from orchid judging centers or exhibitors. The submissions are labeled by the name submitted under. When the plant's identity is confirmed, the last line in the post will have the correct name. We sometimes update pages with reference material pertinent to the submission.

Platystele-umbellata-2023-07-24 *SITF confirms this plant as Platystele umbellata (Yellow Form) (Jul 2023).

This species is very distinctive with its umbel shaped inflorescence for which it is named. Previous awards to this species and all available photos show flowers that are only purple to bright red, this plant is an unusual deep old gold-yellow color. This plant matches the Type drawing by Ortiz in the IOSPE, including the minute cilia on the flower when the photos are greatly enlarged.

Posted on Jul 24, 2023

Country of origin: Colombia. Distinct yellow color of otherwise purple color flowers; flowers are very small to measure with the naked eye.

Platystele-scopulifera-2020-02-04Confirmed as Platystele scopulifera (May 2020); based on the drawing in the SOF, Dodson's Native Orchids of Ecuador, and multiple images in Orchidroots, which closely matches this flower with fimbriated margins, color, and distinctive lip form.

Posted on Feb 4, 2020

Dodson 2003: Native Ecuadorian Orchids, Vol IV, pg. 754 and Line Drawing #1708 Tomas Bajza, Tarzanesroup Also see drawing in jpeg 0404 Award sheet not available at time of submission

Platystele-apoloae-2019-12-24Based on new information, this plant is reconfirmed as Platystele gerritseniana (May 2020), not Platystele apoloae; in the November 2016 issue of "Orchids" magazine there is an excellent drawing, photos and description of P. gerritseniana and comparison to P. apoloae, which shows P. gerritseniana has a distinctive acuminate lip apex; this plant also has the acuminate lip apex and form, which matches P. gerritseniana much better than P. apoloae.

Posted on Dec 24, 2019

Plant was purchased from Ecuagenera orchids. There is published identification documentation on this species by Bosco Javier Zambrano Romero, Rodolfo Solano, & Xavier Cornejo under Platystele apoloae ...

Platystele-scopulifera-2019-12-24Confirmed as Platystele scopulifera (May 2020); based on the drawing by Luer & Dodson, Icones Pleurothallidinarum VIII and photos in Orchidroots, which closely match this flower with similar color and lip form.

Posted on Dec 24, 2019

Plant was bought from Ecuagenera. This is a fairly new species. Evidence of it exists on the internet. Laura, if you have any problems with this please contact me (Larry Sexton orkiddoc@aol.com). I am...

Platystele-ovalifolia-2019-08-14Confirmed as Platystele calantha, not P. ovalifolia (May 2020); the photo and description of P. ovalifolia in IOSPE do not agree with this flower and the drawing and description of P. ovalifoila in the "Venezuelan Orchids Illustrated" 2:289 also do not match; there are a few larger flowered Platystele species like this with entire sepals/petals (vs. acuminate sepals/petals) and of these, P. calantha is the most reasonable match, including the plant, even with the drooping petals; it is a close match to P. calantha in IOSPE, which also has drooping petals and it fits the drawing of P. calantha in SOF from Icones Pleurothallidinarum VII.

Posted on Aug 14, 2019

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SITF Submissions and Findings

Platystele-umbellata-2023-07-24 *SITF confirms this plant as Platystele umbellata (Yellow Form) (Jul 2023).

Platystele-scopulifera-2020-02-04Confirmed as Platystele scopulifera (May 2020); based on the drawing in the SOF, Dodson's Native Orchids of Ecuador, and multiple images in Orchidroots, which closely matches this flower with fimbriated margins, color, and distinctive lip form.

Platystele-scopulifera-2019-12-24Confirmed as Platystele scopulifera (May 2020); based on the drawing by Luer & Dodson, Icones Pleurothallidinarum VIII and photos in Orchidroots, which closely match this flower with similar color and lip form.

Platystele hirtzii

Platystele oxyglossa

Platystele stenostachya

Platystele tica

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SITF Submissions and Findings

Platystele-umbellata-2023-07-24 *SITF confirms this plant as Platystele umbellata (Yellow Form) (Jul 2023).

Platystele-scopulifera-2020-02-04***Confirmed as Platystele scopulifera (May 2020); based on the drawing in the SOF, Dodson's Native Orchids of Ecuador, and multiple images in Orchidroots, which closely matches this flower with fimbriated margins, color, and distinctive lip form.***

Platystele-scopulifera-2019-12-24***Confirmed as Platystele scopulifera (May 2020); based on the drawing by Luer & Dodson, Icones Pleurothallidinarum VIII and photos in Orchidroots, which closely match this flower with similar color and lip form.***

Platystele hirtzii

Platystele oxyglossa

Platystele stenostachya

Platystele tica

To improve your experience, please tell us what you are struggling with most right now?

Please tell us about the challenge that brought you to our website today?

Enter your email address below so we can send the free guide requested for immediate download.

Platystele-scopulifera-2020-02-04Confirmed as Platystele scopulifera (May 2020); based on the drawing in the SOF, Dodson's Native Orchids of Ecuador, and multiple images in Orchidroots, which closely matches this flower with fimbriated margins, color, and distinctive lip form.

Platystele-scopulifera-2019-12-24Confirmed as Platystele scopulifera (May 2020); based on the drawing by Luer & Dodson, Icones Pleurothallidinarum VIII and photos in Orchidroots, which closely match this flower with similar color and lip form.