Dendrobium Speciosum var. differences...

[Gazpacho]

I've been trying to obtain one decent sample of each var. so that I can try and identify (and cement into my mind) the differences between them. Or at least have them handy so I can cross refer to an actual plant. To be honest, it isn't that easy to obtain one decent sample of each, or any one of them for that matter....

it doesnt help that every specialist orchid shop you enter simply tags them "Rock Orchid" Dendrobium Speciosum... or otherwise, they're tagged as a hybrid of one form or another.... or a "named" interspecies cross...

So I really don't know where to begin.... except to post what I have and get the experts to help identify some of the characteristics... and potential origins of the examples I have.

I'll post pics here....

The First photo is tagged "D.S. (J. Evans)" .... I assume that's Dendrobium Speciosum var. speciosum cultivated or bush recovered from the Southern end of NSW by John Evans?

What species does it look like to you?
Much thanks
Gaz

[Gazpacho]

Photo 2 and 2a is tagged Dendrobium Speciosum var. Capricornicum 'Black Mountain' x 'Mount Wheeler'....


What's the identifying difference between blackdownense and capricornicum?

[Gazpacho]

These are orchids (Photo 3 and nearby was Photo 4), that I saw on an east facing clifftop while bush walking. It was in the area just south of Barrington Tops, close to Wollumbi.

I would have called it the Sydney Rock Orchid going by the species map. Sydney is in the midst of Den. Speciosum var. speciosum territory so this, I thought, should be an example of var. Speciosum. However, the National Parks and Wildlife tags that I've seen affixed to plants in nurseries all have identified the "Sydney Rock Orchid" as the var. Hillii.

So... IS this likely to be var. Hillii... or var. speciosum??

The orchid clump in the photo 4 was on a more northerly aspect catching some of the western sun. The Clump in photo 3 seems to have larger leaves and taller psudobulbs as a result. They'd be the same species wouldnt they? I mean, they were around 50 m apart.

[Gazpacho]

Photo 5 - I rescued this poor little fella on the weekend by scrounging around the back of a pile of back corner orchids in a nearby nursery.

The fading tag says "Dendrobium Speciosum 'Windermere' HCC x Dendrobium Speciosum 'Two Up'...

Whether it is true to the tag or it isn't remains to be seen. regardless, is this plant Dendrobium Speciosum var speciosum... or some kind of hybrid.. and if so... what kind does it look like to you?

[Gazpacho]

Photo 6 - This plant was thrown in with the plant in photo 5 for free by the nurseryman, keen to clear his benches. No tag, so he gave me one that said "Rock Orchid". Nice.

Going by the red colouring... and the squat nature, I was thinking this could be var. pendunculatum?.. or at least be tarred with a bit of it from somewhere.... maybe not. what do you think?

Gaz

[Gazpacho]

Photo 7 - No tag... Short stumpy prostate kind of orchid... same Nurseryman... same helpful tag... slight red colouring on these psudobulbs... with proportionally undersized leaves.

Is this a var. pendunculatum type?

[Gazpacho]

Here's a photo of "orchid country" where you can see Sydney Rock Orchid in the wild.... I just like the picture.

[greengarden]

Even within a variety there can be quite a bit of variation so you may be struggling based on leaves alone. Growing in dimmer areas the pseudobulbs can be 45cm plus tall with enormous leaves however growing in bright sun like the in situ photo you posted they will be a much smaller, squatter plant. With so much hybridisation using speciosum going on I think it would be a pretty hazardous exercise trying to do an ID by eye based on growth form of the pseudobulbs/leaves alone.

[Gazpacho]

But I would have to wait years for flowers... and then with these plants in particular I would still not know.

I don't really care so much in the heritage of these particular example plants ... they probably all a mixed puddle in noID's.. well, except or one... if the tag hasn't been shuffled. These ones I am keen to put in my gum trees.

But I'm also keen to learn more about the characteristics of species plants and for the Australian dendrobium speciosum in particular, of which there are only a handful, I might perhaps identify their influence in the zillion available hybrids... if I can get a handle of what characteristics are dominant... when I do eventually get something worthy of going onto the show bench, I will have some background knowledge as to why mine didn't win a ribbon!

[Gazpacho]

Dendrobium Speciosum var. pendunculatum from far North Queensland up near Cape York.