To what alliance do Sarcochilus belong?
 

Hey there all! This is just a quick little question, mainly out of curiosity. I've seen conflicting info in various places online. Some say Vandaceous, some say Pleuro, I even saw one say Phal. I know that in the forums here, Sarcs are listed under the Pleuro alliance. But are there other monopodial pleuros?

:scratchhead: :hmm :scratchhead:
yvan

According to Orchidwiz, they're in the Vandaceous group.

Yep.

SUBFAMILY Epidendroideae, TRIBE Vandeae, SUBTRIBE Aeridinae

ALLIANCE Phalaenopsis

Speaking of which, 'Sarconopsis' (Phalaenopsis x Sarcochilus) seems like a really interesting mix... anyone seen one in flower? Maybe they have enough cool-grown Sarc in them to mount one outside :shock:

OW has it as Vandaceous (excluding Phalaenopsis) :scratchhead:

Partly what confused me was that here on the OB, in the list of alliance forums, Sarcs are listed at the Pleuro alliance forum.

IOSPE also lists as Tribe: Vandae

Vanda alliance. Without question. Pleurothallids are mostly New World orchids. Vandas are mostly Old World.

Sarcochilus spp. grows as a monopodial-sympodial. Pleurothallids grow as sympodials.

Also another way to figure it out is that most Pleurothallids especially Restrepias, Acronias, Pleurothallis, and Ancipitua have the two lateral sepals fused to form what is called a synsepal.

Vandaceous flowers don't have a synsepal, especially so with Sarcochilus spp.

yeah definitely Vandaceous monopodial (Vanda tribe). Closest to Phalaenopsis and Aerides i think.

Yep Vanda alliance. No chance of it being a Pleuro.

I have seen a few Sarcanopsis when judging. They are very attractive flowerings as well. Not sure what the exact background of the particular hybrids were but they are like a Sarcochilus but on steroids as far as colour and size goes.

If I see some at the shows this year I will post here for you to see.