Intergeneric from Trader Joe's

[nobile7]

Hello everyone,

I couldn't resist this beauty this evening at Trader Joe's in San Francisco. Of course it's without ID. There is a tag that says "Grown in Salinas, CA," which is where Matsui Nursery is located. However, there are other nurseries in Salinas that grow orchids, and they also supply Trader Joe's.

Does this particular orchid look familiar to you?

[Roberta]

Beautiful, great find! If you can track down the grower, maybe you can get a name... but lovely as a NOID, too. Enjoy!

[neophyte]

this orchid might belongs to the Zygopetalum alliance, or maybe it's an Oncidium intergeneric. it's hard to tell because many hybrids look so alike. are the leaves smooth or are they pleated - pleated/striated leaves might mean it's a Zygo. maybe you can try contacting Matsui Nurseries (if they are the grower) to see if they know the hybrid name. however, because they are a wholesale supplier, they may not know the name of the orchid either, or they may have a trade name that isn't actually what the flower is officially registered as (eg, "royal purple," or "spotted #123456"). but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the plant... it's a beauty!

[Roberta]

It looks to me like an Oncidium tribe intergeneric. With all the name changes, I don't want to even try to guess which one. But there is probably Miltonia and Oncidium involved, maybe Cochlioda, maybe Brassia, and/or others in the group.

[JScott]

I have one that looks just like that, and it is Oncostele Midnight Miracles. Yours may or may not the the same one, but it probably is at least an Oncostele. I feel like you can really see Rhynchostele bictoniensis in it.

[nobile7]

Originally Posted by JScott

I have one that looks just like that, and it is Oncostele Midnight Miracles. Yours may or may not the the same one, but it probably is at least an Oncostele. I feel like you can really see Rhynchostele bictoniensis in it.

Wow, thanks so much! A match: This certainly looks like an Oncostele Midnight Miracles. The petals and sepals are deep-maroon, dark chocolate brown. The Rhynchostele spots are just alluring.

Originally Posted by Roberta

Beautiful, great find! If you can track down the grower, maybe you can get a name... but lovely as a NOID, too. Enjoy!

Originally Posted by neophyte

this orchid might belongs to the Zygopetalum alliance, or maybe it's an Oncidium intergeneric. it's hard to tell because many hybrids look so alike. are the leaves smooth or are they pleated - pleated/striated leaves might mean it's a Zygo. maybe you can try contacting Matsui Nurseries (if they are the grower) to see if they know the hybrid name. however, because they are a wholesale supplier, they may not know the name of the orchid either, or they may have a trade name that isn't actually what the flower is officially registered as (eg, "royal purple," or "spotted #123456"). but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the plant... it's a beauty!

Thank you both for your thoughts. Indeed I am enjoying this enchanting orchid regardless of ID. I just emailed Matsui before seeing JScott’s reply.

Originally Posted by Roberta

It looks to me like an Oncidium tribe intergeneric. With all the name changes, I don't want to even try to guess which one. But there is probably Miltonia and Oncidium involved, maybe Cochlioda, maybe Brassia, and/or others in the group.

All those name changes! Hahaha I think this one went from Colmanara to Odontocidium to Oncostele.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Wow! What a score at TD!!

[Mountaineer370]

I'm no help with the name, but that plant is very nice! I used to have a Colmanara Masai Red, which I was told had had its name changed to Oncostele Midnight Miracles, but mine had solid dark red petals and sepals, and I think the lip was solid red, too, or it may have had a tiny bit of white fringe.

You'll never know for sure, but just enjoy your beautiful orchid!

[aliceinwl]

I picked up one of these at Trader Joe’s too and they’ve been showing up in other grocery stores as well. The closest I could find in terms of named varieties is Oncostele Midnight Miracles 'Masai Splash'.

[neophyte]

time to scout out all the local Trader Joes in the area...

I do wish they would add labels to their plants though...