Help with Rhynchostylis ID

[taipan]

Soonix
I will see what we have - as photo's go. If not we have some small R.gig.red ( about the same size as yours ) at the nursery & will get a photo for you. One reason for saying it is R.gigantea is the "notch" on the left hand side upper leaf which both gigantea & retusa exhibit.

[Don Perusse]

I agree with Steve. It is not a Rhyn. I have both the red and alba and neither look line the one you posted. I would say it was a phal. also. When it blooms I beleive you will prove the seller wrong.

[Soonix]

Thanks Don P. I will post pictures when it blooms, I also have a feeling that it might be a mini whatever it is. It seems happy now under a light it started to grow a new leaf but it is extremely slow growing.

[orchideric]

It is not Rhynchostylis gigantea - all its color forms have conspicuously marked veins in the leaves. It is not clear in your picture, but R. gigantea has a deeply bilobed leaf tip. The new leaves being red suggest to me that it is an intergeneric hybrid - possibly a cross of Rhynchostylis and Vandopsis.

Eric

[taipan]

Originally Posted by orchideric

It is not Rhynchostylis gigantea - all its color forms have conspicuously marked veins in the leaves. It is not clear in your picture, but R. gigantea has a deeply bilobed leaf tip. The new leaves being red suggest to me that it is an intergeneric hybrid - possibly a cross of Rhynchostylis and Vandopsis.

Eric

You may be right that it is a hybrid. If you look at the top left hand leaf you will see a "V" shaped "notch" on the end of the leaf - that is what I based my opinion on as Rhyn.gigantea & retusa have this "notch", but only R.gigantea has plain or reddish hued leaves.

[abigail]

I think it is a ornamental plant. I only think but its only a guess.


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abigail


Minnesota Treatment Centers

[taipan]

Originally Posted by abigail

I think it is a ornamental plant. I only think but its only a guess.


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abigail


Minnesota Treatment Centers

Hello Abigail - welcome to the forum. I think people here would agree that it is an orchid but it the genus that is causing some consternation amongst us.

[unhappykat]

I am sorry but I must disagree with many of the members, this plant is a RHY gigantea. I have a plant with the exact same purple coloration on its leaves. They emerge a very dark maroon red then they slowly fade to green but retain the color in streaks along the leaf and on the under side of the leaves. Also you mentioned that you moved the plant to a lower light level and it is begining to grow but very slowly, this species is the slowest grower I have ever owned. I got it at an estate sale for a member of my society who had it for over twenty years, it only carries six to eight leaves at a time, usually growing a leaf every six to twelve months depending on conditions, in two years it has put on and lost three leaves. I know many peoplr grow it with no media or giant chunks but I plant it in spag moss for the spring to fall season that it spends outside and in fine bark for the winter inside. Give it a little while and the notching i the leaves will become more pronounced with age, as seedlings especially this small they resemble dwarf phals and normal vandas, but as they age you will see the roots emerge much thicker than any others, they look like rope, and they can easily push the plant out of the pot if there isnt enough room. Watch out as this species is really fitting of its name, my plant is nearly two and a half feet across and three inches wide, it looks like a wilted vanda but still maintains a certain grace. Sorry for the run on but I dont want you to think this is a phal, it like the light and especially the heat, mine recieves morning sun along with the vandas and Cymbidiums and it also recieves evening sun with the cyms, it eats it up.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

Also you mentioned that you moved the plant to a lower light level and it is begining to grow but very slowly, this species is the slowest grower I have ever owned.

Exactly. If you move a plant to a different condition and it resumes growth, its no longer stressed. Basically, this plant enjoys the lower light levels which is indicitive of a Phal. My opinion has not changed and I still believe that this plant is a Phal and definitely not a Rynchostylis.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

I am sorry but I must disagree with many of the members, this plant is a RHY gigantea. I have a plant with the exact same purple coloration on its leaves. They emerge a very dark maroon red then they slowly fade to green but retain the color in streaks along the leaf and on the under side of the leaves. Also you mentioned that you moved the plant to a lower light level and it is begining to grow but very slowly, this species is the slowest grower I have ever owned. I got it at an estate sale for a member of my society who had it for over twenty years, it only carries six to eight leaves at a time, usually growing a leaf every six to twelve months depending on conditions, in two years it has put on and lost three leaves. I know many peoplr grow it with no media or giant chunks but I plant it in spag moss for the spring to fall season that it spends outside and in fine bark for the winter inside. Give it a little while and the notching i the leaves will become more pronounced with age, as seedlings especially this small they resemble dwarf phals and normal vandas, but as they age you will see the roots emerge much thicker than any others, they look like rope, and they can easily push the plant out of the pot if there isnt enough room. Watch out as this species is really fitting of its name, my plant is nearly two and a half feet across and three inches wide, it looks like a wilted vanda but still maintains a certain grace. Sorry for the run on but I dont want you to think this is a phal, it like the light and especially the heat, mine recieves morning sun along with the vandas and Cymbidiums and it also recieves evening sun with the cyms, it eats it up.

I agree with all of the above comments in this reply. Also the original photos indicate the leaves are too narrow in proportion to their length to be a phal and the plant is growing erect like a Rhycostylis. Phals generally begin leaning to the side. I would describe Rhyncostylis as hardy and tolerant. They will tolerate low light conditions but for optimum growth and flower production the plant requires a considerable amount of light. Immature Rhyco roots are very similar to Phals but with each growing season the roots become thicker and thicker to the point of pushing off a sturdy lower leaf when they emerge.