Thelychiton speciosus
 

Getting ready to bloom and starting to approach specimum size, this species was formerly known as Dendrobium speciosum variety pedunculatum. It should put on a pretty decent show in another month.

Steve

Thelychiton speciosus (The Gorgon) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Very nice growing.

According to Kew accepted name is still Dendrobium speciosum. I know we can have a 2 page argument about this but most people know it as Dendrobium and Kew says it's Dendrobium so why confuse people.

Thanks, Rob! No need for us to engage in any sort of argument. :-) I was merely using the term that I've seen on a couple of other orchid-related sites. I'll keep both tags and wait for the final judgment.

Steve

Most people on Orchid Board seem to use the list by the Kew botanical gardens as a reference. It's the only online list I know.

World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The remark about the argument is comming from the reaction of some people when you say Laelia purpurata is actually a Cattleya.

Thanks for the link, Rob. And I'm not uptight (or territorial) about names. Taxonomists make changes regularly, so I see no need to get worked up too much about decisions regarding name changes. I'd probably get more worked up if you tried to convince me that Cattleya purpurata should now be referred to as Phalaenopsis purpurata. :-)

Ooh that's really going to be someting when it blooms!! Can't wait for the photos.
Joann

it must be glorious in flower!

What a impressive, very mature plant! When this Dendrobium blooms it should be a glorious sight to behold, so please do take photos and post them. You wonder why so many spikes? I would say the orchid feels good. :biggrin: AL

Not weighing in on the taxonomy argument but if you follow the Clemesha/Adams taxonomy that Kew has accepted, your plant is Dendrobium speciosum var. pedunculatum. If you follow the Clements & Jones taxonomy, which is accepted by the Council of the Heads of Australasian Herbaria, your plant is Thelychiton pedunculatus, not Thelychiton speciosus.

Oh MY! This is going to be an amazing display! I think it would be absolutely EVIL if you didn't show us pictures of it in full bloom! :D