Gastrochilus

[keithrs]

Whats the difference between Gastrochilus japonicus and Gastrochilus somia?

[WhiteRabbit]

according to IOSPE, Gastrochilus somia "is said to be a synonym for Gastrochilus japonicus"

IOSPE PHOTOS

[keithrs]

Interesting.......

[Paul Mc]

That is interesting. I had both on my wish list. Glad to find out they are the same, and so is my partner, lol...

[lambelkip]

The correct spelling is somae, although many vendors spell it somai. I don't think anybody uses the spelling somia.
According to Kew, it's not the same as G. japonicus, but I'm not sure what the difference is.

[keithrs]

Sorry about that spelling Lambelkip. I have done alittte research this morning and everywhere I go says that somai and japonicus are the same plant, but that japonicus is the scientific name.

Gastrochilus japonicus (Makino) Schlechter

[lambelkip]

check Kew's World Checklist of selected plant families, they list it as a separate species.

Gastrochilus japonicus is native to Japan and Taiwan
Gastrochilus somae is native to Yunnan province in the south (inland) part of China.

it appears that it was recently classified as a seperate species - the reference given is from 2010

Jin, X.H., Dai, Z.Q., Liu, Q.Y. & Ju, X.Y. (2010). Miscellaneous taxonomic notes on Orchidaceae from China. Acta Botanica Yunnanica 32: 331-323

I still don't know what the difference is between the two species, I'd have to find a copy of that article.

[keithrs]

Didn't find that artical but I did find and what is different between the two.

http://d.wanfangdata.com.cn/periodic...201004007.aspx

[lambelkip]

Thanks for the link. that's actually an abstract of the article I mentioned.