Mystery volunteer

[Roberta]

Doubt that it is a Cypripedium... those don't grow at Andy's. (Most Cyps need a cold winter - like serious frost... that doesn't happen in southern California)

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Doubt that it is a Cypripedium... those don't grow at Andy's. (Most Cyps need a cold winter - like serious frost... that doesn't happen in southern California)

Good point! Plus this has been living in my greenhouse for two years, getting intermediate to warm temps.

[Clawhammer]

habenaria rhodocheila?

[IMG]Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Roberta]

Possibly. Or Cynorkis... I know that Cynorkis fastigata tends to throw seeds all over the place and volunteer in odd places. That one is more purple (at least the one that I had until I lost it), but the shape looks a lot like Cynorkis.

[neophyte]

Cynorkis seems like a good bet; I searched up some pictures and it seems like H. rhodocheila has spurs perpendicular to the ovaries (pointing downwards), while several Cynorkis species have spurs parallel with the ovaries (and perpendicular to the stem), which seems to be the case here.

It also helps to get a head-on shot of the flower, especially to have a clear shot of the anther/sex organs; that's usually quite useful for identification, especially terrestrials – not that I know how to identify Cynorkis.

[DirtyCoconuts]

So cool!

[WaterWitchin]

Not a clue what it is... way outside my expertise. But it sure has been exciting to see it bloom! Let's get an encore picture once a bit more of them open, please?

My latest hitchhiker was a Mother of Millions... not nearly as much fun as this!