Schoenorchis fragrans, manipurensis, pachyacris, seidenfadenii & tixieri (???)

[kavanaru]

I was wondering whether anybody here could tell me te differences between the species Schoenorchis fragrans, manipurensis, pachyacris, seidenfadenii & tixieri...

Especially Schoenorchis fragrans, manipurensis & pachyacris look extremely similar to each other, and seidenfadenii & tixieri, even though a bit different, they still could be a variation ofthe same species...

IOSPE PHOTOS
IOSPE PHOTOS
IOSPE PHOTOS
IOSPE PHOTOS
IOSPE PHOTOS

Why I ask? I recently bought a Chiloschista viridiflava ( Chiloschista viridiflava | Orchids Online ) from a private vendor in Ebay. For my surprise, as the plant was delivered, there was not only the Chiloschista, but also a Schoenorchis on the same mount... however, no ID for the Schoneorchis... when I contacted the vendor to ask, her answer was that she thought that was all the same plant (actually, one dying and the second one still alive - in otehr words, she tried to cheat me with a "dead" plant, and she cheated herself for not knowing what she had ) - I must say that both plants are in excellent conditions, and I only paid 10 CHF for both (about 9 $)

[Ray]

My understanding is that the current taxonomic view is that none of the species has any separately-identified variants, so yours is bound to be one of the species.

Do you have a photo of it?

[kavanaru]

Hi Ray, my plant is just a little bunch of leave now. I need to wait for the blooms...

I also know that in theory, there are no variants described for these species. However, sometimes the species are reported as synonim of each other (I have read it for fragrans & manipurensis, and for fragrans & seidenfadenii).

My question is more, what are the differences on which the taxonomists have decided to base their point of view that all are different species?

[Ray]

I cannot speak for that genus, but lip features frequently play a role

[kavanaru]

ok, and here is the pic ofthe plant... As said before, I need to wait for a while to see the flowers and compare...

Schoenorchis sp. on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

and this is the Chiloschista it came attached to

Chiloschista viriflava on Flickr - Photo Sharing!