Bifrenaria tyrianthina (type color forma)

[Frdemetr]

Today is the tyrianthina day (typical color of the species - "tyrianthinus" means "dressed in purple"). This especimen shows the typical characteristics of the species: vigorous vegetative growth; upright and high spikes, almost surpassing the height of leaves (leaves+pseudobulbs may exceed 40cm in height) and the spur very large relative to the size of the flower - these characteristics easily distinguished tyrianthina from Bifrenaria harrisoniae, with which it is (oddly) confused. Other features include the vegetative habit (tyrianthina is strictly rupicolous, while harrisoniae is epiphytic and optionally rupicolous) and something I can not post (at least for now!): the smell is intense but not exactly pleasant, resembling "old flowers” in tyrianthina (totally different from the delicious fragrance of harrisoniae, believe me)

[Rosim_in_BR]

What a huge plant you have there, Doc!! Excellent growing!!!
Is this the one you gave me a piece? It is in bloom now in my shade house, but it seems a bit darker than this one you're posting Bifrenaria tyrianthina | Flickr - Photo Sharing! Bifrenaria tyrianthina | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Frdemetr]

It’s the same plant, Mauro! Yours is wonderful, and seems even darker, I think it received more light (I have a "problem" on this part of the nursery, where is tyrianhina: a huge lychee tree, with lychees produced in bulk, but doing lots of shade! Unfortunately I will have to prune the tree – after fruit picking, of course!)

[bandeeorchids]

I had doubts on how to distinguish Bif. harrisoniae and Bif. tyriantina. After you posted nice images of Bif. harrisoniae I have no more doubts. Thank you for this valuable informations.