SITF Blog

Trichosalpinx-escobarii-Tiny-Something-2023-02-15 *SITF has determined this plant is Pendusalpinx patula, not Trichosalpinx escobarii (Jul 2023). 
Plant identification aided by Alfonso Doucette. Trichosalpinx patula is synonymous with Pendusalpinx patula. Key characteristics of this plant which identify it as Pendusalpinx patula include the ramicauls covered in prominent white bracts on the newest growths, leaves that are distinctly glaucous, a pair of broad wings on the column and leaves which turn down and are basally twisted; flower size also is in range for P. patula.

Posted on Feb 15, 2023

Plant purchased from Ecuagenera Twelve flowers, one bud on three pendent terminal inflorescences to five centimeters emerging from base of leaves, a fourth immature inflorescence, on a 17 tightly clus...

Continue Reading

Mystacidium-gracile-2023-02-15 *SITF confirms that this plant is Mystacidium gracile (Aug 2023).
There are two listings for Mystacidium gracile in Kew's POWO. This is Mystacidium gracile Harv. and is a leafless orchid; the other, M. gracile (Thouars) Finet, is not leafless and is synonymous with Angraecum gracile. The flower size is right on the money and the photo almost exactly matches the image of M. gracile Harv. in the IOSPE. Supporting closely matching photos can be found in the OW and many on the internet and in the orchidroots.com.

Posted on Feb 15, 2023

Continue Reading

Dracula-saulii-2023-02-14 *SITF confirms this plant is Dracula saulii (Apr 2023).
The sepals, petals and caudae match the description of Dracula saulii. 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; the dorsal cauda on this plant may not be quite half, but it is definitely much shorter than the lateral caudae. The only other species that appears close is D. adrianae, but all the caudae seem to be about the same length, as shown in the drawing.

Posted on Feb 14, 2023

Four fuzzy flowers and two developing buds on six pendant inflorescences, on a 17 cm by 26 cm plant mounted on a sphagnum attached to a porous ceramic tube; sepals fused, white marked chestnut on reve...

Continue Reading

Mediocalcar-versteegii-subsp-intermedium-2023-02-14 *SITF has confirmed this plant as Mediocalcar versteegii subsp. intermedium (Feb 2023); "Orchids of New Guinea" website has a complete description and several photos of M. versteegii subsp. intermedium which match this plant; description states it is similar to M. versteegii, but with a shorter spur and pseudobulbs that usually display less pronounced bud-displacement; matches a photo by Art Vogel in the OW labeled as subsp. intermedium.*

Posted on Feb 14, 2023

Twenty-three cm by 31-cm plant grown on a 5-cm wide by 30-cm long treefern mat; single lanceolate 7.2-cm by 1.2-cm leaf born on 1.5-cm long by 0.5-cm side fusiform pseudobulb, growth linear, 2.0-cm be...

Continue Reading

Dendrobium-convexipes-2023-02-12 *SITF has determined this plant not to be Dendrobium convexipes or any other known species in the Section, but probably an unknown hybrid (Jul 2023).
Our thanks to Dr. Andre Schuiteman, Internationally known Taxonomist, for his aid in identifying this plant. The petals of this plant lack any evidence of cilia along the petal margins; the leaves are not held in a single plane and the shape of the lip and crests are not close to that of D. convexipes. The leaves of D. convexipes twist 90 Degrees at their base to present all the leaves in a single plane; this is not shown on this plant. This plant does not key to any known species in the Section Calyptrochilus. Best guess might be a manmade hybrid, possibly between D. lawesii and D. subclausum.

Posted on Feb 12, 2023

Dendrobium convexipes J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 438, pl. 69, 85.Type: Lam 1423 (holo L); paraSynonyms:Chromatotriccum convexipes (J.J.Sm.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, Orchadian 13 (2002) 493S...

Continue Reading

Bulbophyllum-obliquum-2023-02-05 *SITF confirms this plant as Bulbophyllum obliquum (Jun 2023).
Bulbophyllum trifilum flowers are very similar to B. obliquum; however B. trifilum does not match in plant form, on inflorescence length, leaf shape, the number of flowers per inflorescence or in flower size. The leaves of B. obliquum and this plant are flattened, oblanceolate and the rhizomes are long and floral bracts acute. The leaves of B. trifilum are terete. Supporting photos may be seen in the IOSPE.

Posted on Feb 5, 2023

Continue Reading

Microsaccus-wenzelii-Pixie-Dust-2023-02-01 *SITF confirms this plant is Microsaccus wenzelii (Jul 2023).
This is the closest match of the twelve known species in the genus; the flower size matches at 0.8 cm. This plant matches the photo in the IOSPE and is a very close match to the seven photos in the orchidroots.com. This plant matches the description in the IOSPE and OW of being a miniature plant with 2-ranked (distichous), flattened leaves with a single flower on a short, axillary inflorescence.

Posted on Feb 1, 2023

Native to Philippines; flower matches pictures in IOSPE and epharmacognosy websites; plant and flower description in Orchidaceae (Ames) 5: 257 (1915) (viewable at Biodiversitylibrary.org)

Continue Reading
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23