Trying to ID an Orchid Collection at Local College - Page 2 - Orchid Board

SilverDreamer · #1 03-31-2010, 10:43 AM

I've posted four more orchid pics - three ID'd, one Phalaenopsis- no id yet.

On a side note- I really don't like slugs. I recently discovered that they like curling up in the drainage holes of clay pots, coming out at night to feast on my poor newly opened buds. The Dendrobium aggregatum was a favored target - the petals disappearing from each bud just before it was open enough to photograph. Very aggravating. Thankfully, my teacher knew what to look for when I mentioned the problem. Now I have a new step in my weekly inspection routine. Lift pot, discover slug, squish. Eck.

leeza · #2 01-29-2011, 01:47 AM

Hi...I have been looking for a division of Paph. Norwood's Creek x sukhakulii for over ten years (mine died during a cross-country move). The flower was a beautiful butterscotch color with lots of maroon spots. I loved it. If you are able and willing, I would love to buy a division of the plant if you still have it. If you do, and would like a photo of my plant (RIP), let me know and I'll try to find it for you. Thanks so much...

Leeza

SilverDreamer · #3 02-02-2011, 11:51 AM

Leeza,
I'm sorry that I am not going to be able to help you. I do thank you for the reminder that I need to update my ID'd list again. Prompted by your post, I rechecked how many individual plants are left unidentified and determined that of the Paphiopedilums, only two are still unknown. And as one has a small pink bloom, it cannot be the Paph. Norwood's Creek x sukhakulii you are looking for. A photo of it is in my gallery under 'Paph. Unknown Small Pink'. The other is a small plant that has not bloomed, but it's leaves match the mottling of a Paph sublaeve.
Even though I could not help you, I thank you for helping me narrow down the list of possibilities. I will be updating the list and photo file in a little bit.

SilverDreamer · #4 02-02-2011, 12:47 PM

I've updated the list of orchids - I edited the original list at the beginning of this thread - and included the numbers of orchids we have left to ID. It's not that many, which is a little sad considering how many unclaimed orchid names are still on that list.
However, even though much was lost over the years, since I've taken over the care of the orchids (and they've improved in appearance) we've had two donations of 20 or so plants each. One set was from a private collector, the other was from a local plant seller that had a number of leftover Phals and didn't want to throw them away. (Of that second set, we sold a lot of the duplicates at our next plant sale, but kept the ones that were not already represented in our collection.) So, even though there is loss, there is gain as well.

orkie · #5 02-19-2010, 07:52 PM

If you don't have it id-ed already, Den. aggregatum is probably identifiable without flowers, it is pretty distinctive in pseudobulb shape, each topped with one leaf. Here's a decent pic of a non-blooming one
http://www.ironwoodorchids.com/image...0Majus%202.JPG
The loddigessi, nobile, and kingianum will be easy to id when they flower (as would aggregatum). Brassia Rex 'Sakata' will be wasy when it flowers, that particular clone is very identifiable. Both Onc. Gower Ramsey and sphacelatum are also easy to id in flower, based on the list of plant to choose from. Just keep posting as you get plants in flower!

SilverDreamer · #6 02-25-2010, 11:47 AM

You are correct orkie. Den. aggregatum is an easy id. It also, when I doublechecked, was one of the few that actually had a readable label, so that one is id'd even though it hasn't bloomed yet. Thanks.
I'm adding two more orchids to the gallery. One is a Phalaenopsis very similar to Phalaenopsis Magdalene Aker 'Vera' x Diane Rigg 'Pink Mist', but the leaf color is very different -med green vs. dk green overlaid with purple- and there are subtle differences in the bloom coloring, which are obvious if they are compared side by side.
Whew! No wonder it is so hard to specifically id unlabeled orchids.
The other orchid thankfully has its label, so no problems there.

Phantasm · #7 02-25-2010, 12:37 PM

I would suggest working with your local orchid society for some help. Most of these groups have experts that are quite willing........

epiphyte78 · #8 03-31-2010, 11:41 AM

Since you only have one Encyclia that's an easy one to cross off your list...

Rather than manually squishing the slugs I would recommend using "That's It". The granules are small and will last for quite a while without getting moldy. It will also help protect against the dreaded tiny bush snail.

SilverDreamer · #9 04-01-2010, 08:57 AM

Thanks. I'm still going to wait until it blooms to confirm since I have a few plants that have that basic shape, but it's good to have a way of narrowing things down. Maybe they are divisions of the same plant? Or undocumented donations? *wince* I hope not that last.

epiphyte78 · #10 04-01-2010, 01:30 PM

Not quite sure but I think the only other orchid on your list that has egg shaped pseudobulbs is the Coelogyne. However, the Coelogyne pseudobulbs tend to have an inch or more between them and they can wrinkle quite a bit. The leaves of the Coelogyne tend to be floppy and thin while Encyclia leaves tend to be stiff and leathery.

Lycaste pseudobulbs tend to be close together and around the same height as Encyclias but they are flatter than Encyclias...and often have two sharp thorns on the tops of the pseudobulbs that have dropped their leaves.

So if the similar orchids have perfectly round, fairly short, pseudobulbs that are packed in close together bearing relatively narrow, fairly stiff leaves then they are most likely Encyclias. However, there are a few other species from other genre that might fit that description as well...such as Laelia albida.