Need some help to id this orchid please folks. It was given to me by an old friend who knew sweet nothing about growing orchids but this plant triumphed at her place.
Looks like a C.mossiae to me, a very variable species especially in flower colour. Ridged psuedobulbs with one leaf up to 10" long. Inflorescence up to 12" high with 2-4 flowers.
bernabu
...whether it is a hybrid or not? (short of DNA testing I suppose)It would be great to give it a label. How should one label an unknown hybrid... if Bill is right?
Sibbie
Yes, I can see the similarity, they are both Cattleyas!!!!!!!!
Seriously, your flower has broad rounded sepals and do not point directly down.Wellsy's flower has narrower pointed sepals and the lower sepals point directly downward.Also the lips do not match, completely different.
Sibbie, I do try and identify plants where possible but with this one of yours I'm sorry to say it just can't be done.
Cattleya mossiae
Looks like a C.mossiae to me, a very variable species especially in flower colour. Ridged psuedobulbs with one leaf up to 10" long. Inflorescence up to 12" high with 2-4 flowers.
bernabu
Not sure
about this one Sibbie, I suspect it may be a hybrid.
Bill
Is there any way to know...
...whether it is a hybrid or not? (short of DNA testing I suppose)It would be great to give it a label. How should one label an unknown hybrid... if Bill is right?
Sibbie
C. Unknown
Sibbie,
You can count on Bill usually being right, and for the label all you need to do is label it like this, C. unknown.
I have been in this situation myself and there is virtually no way of naming an unknown hybrid such as this.
Kindest regards,
Anton
a similar plant?
See this post for more http://orchidsonline.com.au/node/3342
For clarity....Please keep any comments on this discussion folks.
Regards wellsy
colour placements & patterns
I see what you mean. There is a lot of similarity there.
Similar plant!!!
Yes, I can see the similarity, they are both Cattleyas!!!!!!!!
Seriously, your flower has broad rounded sepals and do not point directly down.Wellsy's flower has narrower pointed sepals and the lower sepals point directly downward.Also the lips do not match, completely different.
Sibbie, I do try and identify plants where possible but with this one of yours I'm sorry to say it just can't be done.
I suggest you label it C. unknown.
Bill
Will do that
Thanks everyone for your help. The plant has happily graduated from no tag at all to C. unknown.
Sibbie.