Bulbo...phyllum?

[Silje]

I've got a couple of new plants...

One is definitely an Ansellia africana, and that one is flowering right now:


But I've got absolutely no idea what the other one might be:




A bit of background might be useful...

I found this little bulby thing tucked in between some hidden away ansellias at a local nursery (here in Namibia). It had been mounted on to a Baboon's Tail stump the same way as the Ansellia I bought. This is a very normal way of mounting orchids from Zimbabwe.

The plant had not in any way grabbed hold of the Baboon's Tail, it was just stuffed into a hole. I decided to take it out and potted it in crushed macadamia nutshells. The oldest and largest bulb is roughly 4 inches long. The roots look terrestrial to me, they remind me of cymbidium roots, but maybe it's just because they've been hidden away inside the mount for so long.

The bulbs also remind me of cymbidiums, in a way. They look like shiny, green leafless backbulbs somehow. The one leaf that grows out of the top of the bulb is tough. It has slightly serrated edges, and quite rough texture and is by far the hardest and thickest orchid leaf I've ever seen.

Well...I THINK it is an orchid at least...? I kinda looks like one, but bulbophyllum was just a wild guess from my side.

I've seen pictures of other orchids people have bought from street vendors from Zimbabwe, but I can't say I've seen any that looks like this...

What do you think?

[Paul Mc]

I'm not certain that it's a Bulbo. Those rings in the center remind me of the rings you see on Dendrobiums and other sorts, but not on Bulbo's that I'm aware of.

[WhiteRabbit]

Beautiful Ansellia. Can't help with I.d. on the other except to say it doesn't look like a Cymbidium - they have long, grassy foliage - tho I certainly don't know all ...

[Silje]

Is it an orchid?

It was bought as a nameless, tagless leftover that has been standing in the shade hidden away from most customers for years.

It might not be a wild growing plant from Zimbabwe at all, I suppose. Maybe it just ended up being tucked into a Baboon's Tail by coincidence at some stage.

It has very dark green leaves at the moment, but that could be caused by too little light, I think.

Oh, and it grows new bulbs from the bottom of the old one or on a very short rhizome. Bulbophyllums often have long rhizomes with bulbs situated further apart, don't they?

I'm at a complete loss... I might have bought a weed for all I know...

[Silje]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

I'm not certain that it's a Bulbo. Those rings in the center remind me of the rings you see on Dendrobiums and other sorts, but not on Bulbo's that I'm aware of.

I agree, Paul. I've also never seen pictures of bulbos with rings like that on the bulbs. The Ansellia has it, and the dendrobiums, as you say.

I just thought it HAS to be an orchid. What else could it be, but I might be in the complete wrong family.

[NatalieS]

It looks to me like a very dehydrated laelia of some description. You've got fat pseudobulbs with the lines around the middle, thick single apical leaf, the very short rhizomes...

Just a guess, but that's what I thought when I looked at it.

[Silje]

Originally Posted by NatalieS

It looks to me like a very dehydrated laelia of some description. You've got fat pseudobulbs with the lines around the middle, thick single apical leaf, the very short rhizomes...

Just a guess, but that's what I thought when I looked at it.

A laelia?! Well, that possibility never crossed my mind, but you could be right. Definitely. I only got laeliocattleyas with more 'stem-like' bulbs, but I see on pictures that lots of laelias have bulbs, rather than stems.

It got a tiny new growth coming, and maybe it will be easier to determine what it is when that one is maturing. I suspect this is a long-neglected fellow that is in dire need of a bit of TLC to get his bearings.

That would mean it's not originally a wild orchid from Zimbabwe at least. And that it might be a beautiful flower and not a foul smelling weirdo.

Hmmm...bottom line I've got absolutely no idea that this little guy needs now. For the time being, I'll keep it in a fairly shaded area and with a very free-draining media...

[Silje]

I've identified the bulby guy, I think.

I'm putting my bucks on that it's a Eulophia petersii.

More info here

From what I can find about this orchid online and from the pictures available. I like it! And it does really sound like the perfect orchid for Namibian conditions. He's definitely going to be a year-round garden plant and just take whatever the Namibian weather and climate is throwing at him.

[NatalieS]

Well done Silje - that really does look like your plant. And of course it makes much more sense than it being a laelia.

At least now you know how to care for your new find!