Epi cross identification - Orchid Board

W Stender · #1 10-02-2009, 10:49 PM

Greetings!, I have an orchid that came from an old collection and it does not have a name. People in my orchid society say it is great and I should try to get a name so I can register it for judging. It looks like an epidendrum (and that is what I was told it was), but it does not form a bunch or ball like a normal reed stem epi. Someone has suggested it may be a epidendrum x lelia cross. I have two questions:

* Can anyone identify this

*Is there a way to identify by DNA testing or is there some "official" AOS way of identifying?

PaphMadMan · #2 10-02-2009, 11:13 PM

You may have Epicattleya Fireball. Though not the same clone as pictured in the link it is very similar. DNA testing might be possible in theory but would be extremely expensive and time consuming if you could even find someone to do it. There is no 'official' means to identify an unlabeled hybrid.

Epicattleya Fireball 'Enewetok', AM/AOS at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

W Stender · #3 10-03-2009, 10:38 AM

Thanks PahMadMan, it is close, but no cigar. I did some research after your post and determined Epicattleya Fireball is too big and the red throat is nowhere to be found on mine. My plant is 12" to 15" tall and the flowers are only 1" to 1.5" across. I enclose a picture for comparison

I did find an interesting closer match and I am waiting an email from the grower of SFDRA. (Sl. Psyche x Epi. Sunkist) 'Golden Orange' to see if it is a better match. I have added a picture of this also. Any further comments?

PaphMadMan · #4 10-04-2009, 02:54 PM

There is no Epi. Sunkist (at least not registered as far as I can find) so it is hard to comment on that cross. The picture is too small to see any detail.

In most cases it will not be possible to positively identify an unknown hybrid unless it is a clone and you get lucky finding a matching picture. There is just too much variability. For instance, I would expect Epicattleya Fireball to be quite variable in plant size and flower size and some won't have red in the lip.

I agree your plant is quite nice, but without an absolutely definite identification it can't be judged and should never be used in breeding. That's the downside of lost tags and plants sold without proper identification.