Dendrochilum magnum

[IncredibleOrchids]

Dendrochilum magnum -- Is it slightly fragrant or is my nose tricking me?!!

[beanluc]

Heh, no trick: see Dendrochilum magnum

[Daethen]

No trick, I love the fragrance. I am afraid that I killed mine this fall after it was done blooming. I loved the smell.

[Trey]

Hi IncredibleOrchids

Nice plant. Do you have a close up of the labellum and column?

There are many plants on forums, including this one that have been labelled as Dendrochilum magnum when they are Dendrochilum latifolium (including variety macranthum), a mistake easily made as the plants are similar.

The key differences outlined by Henrik Pedersen (1997) are:


Dendrochilum magnum. The labellum more or less porrect with a somewhat cymbiform conformation. Column strongly incurved; stelidia subequal to the column proper.


Dendrochilum latifolium. Labellum pendent, flat (side lobes often erect). Column slightly incurved; stelidia shorter than the column proper.

Our confusion between the two is not helped by some orchid sellers around the world who are saying the two species are synonymous with each other.

I know scent is not of diagnostic importance when identifying species. But the (real) descriptions of Dendrochilum magnum state that it has no scent, Oakes Ames said that there was a faint scent and a Kew specimen states that there is a faint rubbery scent.

Cheers
Trey

[Tindomul]

Very nice. I have had mine sine the summer. How often do they bloom?

[smwboxer]

Actually, after they are open for a while, they become very fragrant.

[fishmommy]

that is so elegant!

[Amanda L]

Wow! That's really beautiful with added bonus of smelling nice! Way to grow!

[RosieC]

Beautiful!