Neofinetia richardsiana??

[neophyte]

I came across this species name today; initially I assumed it was a synonym of Neo./Vanda falcata, but it turns out it's a separate species... does someone know how it's different? This whole time I thought Neofinetia was a monotypic genus...

Edit: Hmm, looking closer, it might be the spur length?

[Craig Gibbon]

Hi there,

There are actually three species that were once in the genus Neofinetia until they were sunk into Vanda. The three species namely, V falcata, V richardsiana and V xichangensis. V richardsiana and V xichangensis are closely related and some authorities consider V xichangensis to be merely a form of V richardsiana. V richardsiana and V xichangensis are restricted to China. V richardsiana is the smallest of the three with flowers almost being half the size of V falcata. V richardsiana has tiny spurs as opposed to V falcata. V xichangensis can almost be considered to be intermediate in size to the two other species. V richardsiana is difficult to cultivate if you don't follow their basics and does not enjoy growing in moss like V falcata. V richardsiana is getting fairly easily obtainable now. V xichangensis however is not at all common in cultivation and I don't think there are many in cultivation. Plants sold in the trade as V xichangensis invariably turn out to be the Chinese form of V falcata sometimes traded as 'Shisen Furan'

Regards

Craig

[neophyte]

Thanks so much for the detailed response!