"Pitcher Orchid" ID

[ralphmanning]

Hi, i'm interested to find out what the below Orchids are. I've seen them described as "Pitcher Orchids", or wrongly confused with Pitcher plants. I dont actually necessarily need the exact sp. of pictured below. A genus or even simply some more information on "pitcher orchids" and the genus this commonly refers to, would be fine. Thank you very much.

[Carpe Diem]

It is a Paphiopedilum, Paph. for short, and a pretty one at that! That's the best I can do, since I'm a beginner.

---------- Post added at 07:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:48 AM ----------

They are also called Slipper orchids because the pouch looks like a slipper.

[tucker85]

That's correct, it is a paphiopedilum. I haven't heard them referred to as 'pitcher orchids' but, as the previous post said, they are often call 'slipper orchids'. Your's is very pretty.

[RosieC]

Yes, as said above the Genus is Paphiopedilum often referred to here as Paph, and also commonly known as a 'Slipper' orchid.

I must admit I've never heard them referred to as 'Pitcher' orchids but names like that are often regional and it's only with groups like this that the same common names start getting applied globally.

It's very difficult to ID more than that. It's likely a hybrid rather than a species. I would guess from the flower that it has mottled leaves, is that right? There are many hybrids with this sort of look (green/red stripes in the flag, dark spots on predominantly green petals, veins visible in the pouch/pitcher, varying between pure green/white to dark red in colour with mixed ones like yours in between).

I think care is farely standard for Paphs, the only thing I was told is that if the leaves start getting paler and loosing their mottle look then the light is too high.

Here is a link to the AOS care sheet for Paphs.
http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=203

[ralphmanning]

Originally Posted by Carpe Diem

It is a Paphiopedilum, Paph. for short, and a pretty one at that! That's the best I can do, since I'm a beginner.

Many thanks Carpe Diem, I am a beginner also.

I agree with you that it is very pretty. What attracts me is that the coloration of the green and deep red is similar to many Nepenthes (Pitcher plants).

Contrary to what I asked in my original post, I'm probably going to need more to go on than the genus. So if anyone reading has any ideas of the sp. name or some possibilities, I'd welcome all suggestions.

---------- Post added at 01:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by tucker85

That's correct, it is a paphiopedilum. I haven't heard them referred to as 'pitcher orchids' but, as the previous post said, they are often call 'slipper orchids'. Your's is very pretty.

Originally Posted by RosieC

Yes, as said above the Genus is Paphiopedilum often referred to here as Paph, and also commonly known as a 'Slipper' orchid.

I must admit I've never heard them referred to as 'Pitcher' orchids but names like that are often regional and it's only with groups like this that the same common names start getting applied globally.

It's very difficult to ID more than that. It's likely a hybrid rather than a species. I would guess from the flower that it has mottled leaves, is that right? There are many hybrids with this sort of look (green/red stripes in the flag, dark spots on predominantly green petals, veins visible in the pouch/pitcher, varying between pure green/white to dark red in colour with mixed ones like yours in between).

I think care is farely standard for Paphs, the only thing I was told is that if the leaves start getting paler and loosing their mottle look then the light is too high.

Here is a link to the AOS care sheet for Paphs.
http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=203

I assumed "Pitcher orchid" was just a term for this kind of green/red coloration of Paphs, reminiscent of actual Picture plants - Nepenthes. Thank you very much for your help tucker85 & RosieC.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by ralphmanning

Contrary to what I asked in my original post, I'm probably going to need more to go on than the genus. So if anyone reading has any ideas of the sp. name or some possibilities, I'd welcome all suggestions.

I would actually guess that you will never be able to find an exact ID. Many of these are hybridised so often and the hybrids not always registered by the big mass market growers. There could be others that look just the same, but are genetically different and assigning a name that you are not sure on can cause more confusion in the future, for you and for others.

We call them NoID's here and I like to give them my own name. As long as the name is only for my purposes it's no problem to make one up

This will be somewhere related to the same parents as a Maudiae hybrid but is unlikely to be that (just has some similar features) but could just be from parents closely related to the parents of that. I very much doubt that yours is a species therefore won't have a species name. A hybrid name is more likely but even then unless you know the nursery and can ask them you can't really be sure of any name.

[Ray]

It is a hybrid, more specifically, a "mottled-leaf" or "Maudiae-type" paph. Paph. Maudiae being a well-known, mottled leaf hybrid.

There are a lot of hybrids in that category, so you're never going to know its true ID unless it's on the tag that was supposed to go with it.