Equestris identification - Orchid Board

orchid-recruit · #1 09-20-2012, 12:51 AM

Hi everyone - I was wondering if anyone could help me identify this equestris. Pictures on the web are only confusing me. I know it isn't a var. alba because I already have one, and of course it isn't a rosea. The lip is really a very light pink, making me think it is just a regular equestris. Is this probably the furthest I can go in identifying a grocery store equestris? Anyone have one that looks just like it?

Lana · #2 09-20-2012, 02:03 AM

What makes you think it's equestris? Did it come with a tag? It looks like a hybrid to me, possibly with equestris in its background, but still a hybrid. Whatever it is, it's beautiful.

orchid-recruit · #3 09-20-2012, 03:14 AM

Gosh, I don't know. I have had it for years, and it is the shape of an equestris, don't you think? It didn't come with a tag; I think I got it at Home Depot. It is a very mature plant, probably 7 years old, and when I look online at pictures of equestris orchids, it looks like them, but a little off. Just white and light pink. Of course it could be a hybrid, but I have an equestris var. alba, and I have a rosea on the way, so eventually, I think I will find out more just be comparison.

orchid-recruit · #4 09-20-2012, 03:16 AM

Oh, and thanks Lana - it is easily my favorite orchid. Almost blooms year round! I love it, but I just wish I knew it's history.

orchid-recruit · #5 09-20-2012, 04:03 AM

How about an equestris var. leucaspis? Anyone familiar with that equestris? Looks a lot like that one to me.

Rowangreen · #6 09-20-2012, 05:22 AM

Without a tag you can never be 100% sure what your plant is. So you should always label it Noid (no id) even if you are 99% sure what it is. There are thousands of hybrids, many of them looking very similar, plus they vary according to growing conditions.

Frustrating I know... I have a few myself!

The Mutant · #7 09-20-2012, 07:54 AM

Definitely not a pure equestris, the lip is totally wrong, looks like there might be some pulcherrima in it when looking at the lip.

Whatever it is it is darn cute and I would never have left this cute little NoID if I had spotted it.

I love equestris and equestris hybrids and have a NoID myself that looks very much like an equestris, but since I'm uncertain I just call it my little equestris hybrid.

This is how my little equestris NoID looks like:

I would really love to have one like yours too.

Lana · #8 09-20-2012, 11:51 AM

I have an equestris obsession myself

I adore this species, and have several different types and clones! But as Rowangreen said, unless the plant came with a tag, it's a NOID. I have several gorgeous ones, and it doesn't bother me that I don't know exactly what they are. Identification is important when you don't know how to care for your plant. In your case, just keep doing what you're doing; your Phal is obviously very happy

orchid-recruit · #9 09-20-2012, 03:32 PM

Thanks Mutant - I would have thought yours was and equestris var. rosea of some sort, but I can see that it is quite a bit different than mine. Mine is thin and spider-like. As far as identification goes, I'm mostly interested in knowing what it is because I have limited space and I really like phal. equestris and don't want to get the same one. Thanks everyone.