Uncertain genera - Orchid Board

Epidendrum · #1 04-06-2011, 07:34 PM

Hello !
My name is Ralfito and I live in South Colombia in the heart of the Central Cordillera. There are a bunch of native orchids out there and would like to know if somebody could help me with the name of this one. Its quite common on the waysides southeast exposure. It grows anywhere and has got an abundant blooming (40 up to 80 stings).
Thank you for your replies. Love. Ralf

ronaldhanko · #2 04-07-2011, 04:20 AM

Looks like a Stelis (related to Pleurothallis), but beyond that it's very difficult to tell.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #3 04-12-2011, 04:27 AM

Stelis tend to be difficult to nail down to the species level if there isn't a close-up of what the flowers look like.

There are also many different species of Stelis that closely resemble each other at first glance.

Epidendrum · #4 04-12-2011, 08:59 PM

Hi Friends,
Thank's for giving me the name of this genera. Well, I'll be searching in this direction. There are quite a few of other species around here, all with little tiny flowers and there's very few literature about Stelis. So if someone can help me find a link where I could identify them, would be great!
Anyway, thank's for your support and see you soon on this forum. Cheers! and have a nice day. Ralf

ronaldhanko · #5 04-13-2011, 01:43 AM

IOSPE is the place to look, but Stelis is a large genus and the flowers are very similar in most cases and thus hard to identify correctly.

Tindomul · #6 04-13-2011, 10:55 AM

Hi, if you can work with the scientific litterature, and you have the time and interest, you can try using this: Icones Pleurothallidinarum, by Carlyle Luer, 30+ volumes
Use the link below, press catalogue, search by author name, Carlyle Luer, and Carlyle A. Luer.
Missouri Botanical Garden Press

ronaldhanko · #7 04-13-2011, 11:08 AM

30+ volumes at up to $80.00 a volume!!!!!! One difficulty of using these is that though individual volumes are selective in their treatment of different genera (i.e., Lepanthes of Ecuador) new species are published in whatever volume is coming out. The latest volume is on Lepanthes of Bolivia and Octomeria outside of Brazil, but has new species of Brachionidium, Lepanthes, Octomeria, Pleurothallopsis, Masdevallia, Porroglossum and and Platystele.

ronaldhanko · #8 04-13-2011, 11:12 AM

I should have added that your best bet in determining a specific plant is to take the flowers to an herbarium or botanical gardens where they may have someone to help you. These are really hard to distinguish even by an expert.

Tindomul · #9 04-13-2011, 11:34 AM

Ah yes, you must have patience, interest, and MONEY!!!!

Perhaps your local botanical institution has it so you can look at it.