Some sort of bromeliad?

[dimithar]

Hi guys! I'm sorry that the riddle I have for today isn't (likely) an orchid, which is why I'm puzzled (I would have called it some sort of bromeliad). It has "furry" (tarantula-like ) roots and from what I can tell the spike was sort of fuzzy, too. It was planted in a mix of bark, volcanic rock and (?!) walnut shells.

[reliablefool]

Looks like a phragmipedium to me...so it is an orchid if I'm right. Terrestrial so the roots aren't like many of the orchid roots we are used to.

Just noticed you said it might be a paph...it could be and I'm definitely not the one to tell you the differences between the two slipper orchids, but I do think it is one of the two.

[Paul]

Definitely not a bromeliad. With those roots and the vegetative growth, some sort of phrag or paph.

[littlefrog]

It is a paphiopedilum, not a phragmipedium.

[bellini girl]

Looks like a paph

[PaphMadMan]

Definitely a Paph. No question about it. Looks healthy.

[weederwoman]

Would it be too complicated for someone to use this as a teaching moment to help us with the basics on how to differentiate between paphs and phrags? Thanks

Laurel

[PaphMadMan]

Originally Posted by weederwoman

Would it be too complicated for someone to use this as a teaching moment to help us with the basics on how to differentiate between paphs and phrags? Thanks

Laurel

A few of the easiest things to look for have already been mentioned. And please realize that almost any easily observable physical characteristic can't be absolute. There may be some rare or uncharacteristic exceptions.

If the roots are thick and hairy, usually brownish, it is a Paph. Phrags have mostly smoother, thinner roots, often more white or even greenish.

Similarly, flower stems in Paphs tend to be fuzzy to hairy, Phrags are mostly smoother. Also, if a flower is abundantly hairy (beyond fuzzy) or warty, it is a Paph, though not all Paphs have this characteristic. If a flower is largely a bright true red or solid bright purple, not at all brown or maroon, it is a Phrag.

If the leaves are not plain green, if they have any pattern at all or contrasting color beneath, even just spotting near the base like the one pictured here, it is a Paph. Phrag leaves are plain green.

Some Paphs also have plain green leaves, but they tend to be thicker, straighter, harder and stiffer than Phrag leaves. Plain green Paph leaves also tend to have rounded tips, Phrags are more pointed.

One Phrag species and its hybrids, that are just beginning to be commonly seen, tends to obscure some of these differences. It is a bigger, harder, fuzzier plant than other Phrags, but once you see Phrag kovachii and its bright purple flowers as big as your hand it is pretty distinctive.

Also, if you know where a species comes from, or any species in the background of a hybrid, there is no question at all. Paphs come from Asia and the South Pacific; Phrags come from Central and South America.

[weederwoman]

Thank you so much. I just have one phrag (a grande) and I don't have a good memory of its roots. I'll take a good look when I repot it this year after it (hopefully) blooms. It bloomed for the first time for me last year.

[dimithar]

Thank you all for the tune-in Wow, I was way off In my defence, I'm not accustom to seeing fuzzy orchids So I guess I have my first Paph acquired totally by accident! I have some reading up to do now.