Probable laelia - maybe anceps or gouldiana

[Aussie42]

Hi folks.

I think I've had this plant for six years. It's grown extremely slowly - I only have one piece of it and it's only been repotted once, not divided - but it's finally flowered. And it was unexpected.

Sadly the photos haven't managed to capture the green in the centre of the labellum. In my collection this is unusual but there you go. I can try again but since it didn't work on the first batch of pictures I suspect you'll just have to take my word for it. Maybe in sun with no flash would work. It's the green that's got me thinking gouldiana:

File:Laelia gouldiana-003.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

It also has a lot in common with some of the anceps images and of course it could easily be a cross.

It's a small plant too as you can see from the ruler. The flower spike is 35-40cm (approx 850-900 inches for those unfamiliar with metric) tall.

I hope you can help out, I'll try and get some pictures that capture the green after the sun gets to a decent height.

Cheers,
Murray.

[Nexogen]

Laelia of Mexico

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&...hVl5UbOUtlpJAw

[RandomGemini]

I think it's laelia anceps. Gouldiana seems to have ruffled edges to the petals and the color is much deeper than this. This is soft, more like laelia anceps.

Could possibly be a hybrid, but I'm not sure of that. My experience with hybrids is that they tend to grow pretty aggressively and species tend to be slower growing.

[Aussie42]

Hi RG.

I think you're correct - that great link from Nexogen shows how rare gouldiana is. Also, some of the anceps images I've seen are very close. Eg:

Coelogyne fimbriata and Laelia anceps

(Third photo of the above.)

The Wayward Hawaiian: Laelia anceps 'SVO' HCC/AOS

It's interesting that some of the anceps have pointed petals and others are much more rounded.

And I can attest to the fact that it's extremely slow growing - it was no seedling when I got it, it was mature. You can see it hasn't grown much in six years. I'm pretty sure it's the slowest growing orchid I have. Mind you, I only have about thousand plants so it's not like I've gone overboard or have everything, and I'm sure there are slower growing orchids out there. Somewhere.

Cheers,
Aus.

[euplusia]

All gouldianas in culture look very uniform.
I agree with the above, thinking you got a colourful Laelia anceps. I don't think it is a natural hybrid or cross.
Congrats for the flower, which helps to identify.

[WhiteRabbit]

Lovely!

[Orchidsoutdoors]

Odd that it should be a slow grower, my anceps all grow like weeds. The internodes in those pics are longer than any of my anceps.

[Aussie42]

The canes seem small compared to anceps images too.

My Catts and other Laelias love the same media it's in, it gets regular water and fertiliser (not too much of either, of course) - I have no clue why it's so slow. I have an anceps cross that grows like a weed in the same conditions. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong...

[palm521]

Pure old fashion , laelia Anceps without any single doubt!

you can write it down safely in your plant tag.

this plants do best mounted, in a tree fern or a piece of cork with a bit of sphagnum moss (depends on how you water), potting is not really the best way to grow this species.

cheers!
Antonio.