Rhynchostylis gigantea var. harrisonianum or var. alba?
 

I just bought this Rhynchostylis gigantea.

In my book Wild Orchids of Thailand the white variant is named Rhynchostylis gigantea var. harrisonianum but on orchidspecies.com the white variant is named Rhynchostylis gigantea var. alba.

Is it two different variants or has the name changed?

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2CZu_FVJaBM/TR...0/PC265574.JPG
Picasa Web Albums - Bo Christensen

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2CZu_FVJaBM/TR...0/PC265578.JPG
Picasa Web Albums - Bo Christensen

I can't help with the correct name but it sure is beautiful!
Joann

var. alba would be correct taxonomically, although harrisonianum is considered synanamous.

Beautiful, mine double spiked also this year. They are a special orchid.

Yes it is. And it smells very good too.

Thanks for clearing that out.

I can't take credit for the two spikes. It was bought with them. Hopefully it will do the same next year.

Gorgeous!! I need to get me one of these.

Hi,

yes they are synonyms. You can say that it is a question of business : It is much more easy to sell a plant with an ID such as var. alba that everybody understands than var. harrisonianum that nobody knows.

Note there is no var. harrisonianum registred on Kew list but a f. harrisoniana but this plant is always sold (as almost any albas) as var alba.