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Bulbophyllum vaginatum.....NOT!!!

Discussion in 'Orchid Identification Section' started by Joanie, Nov 19, 2020.

  1. Joanie

    Joanie New Member

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    Last year all the tiny buds blasted on my vaginatum so I had to wait for this year's blooming. Much to my surprise the blooms were a reddish purple umbel and not the white/yellow fireworks shape that I was expecting. So in order to label this correctly, may I get a few suggestions as to what it really is? Sorry about the poor quality of the photos. The first single flower had not opened enough when I took the photo, but the next day the flower had been eaten during the night. DSCN0397.JPG


    So I took the plant into the house to wait for the next two flowers to open. I was leaning to Bulb. corolliferum but maybe it is something else? I am not too familiar with these umbel type Bulbos.
    DSCN0444.JPG

    I am not having too good of a track record with the tags from this shipment. I am still waiting for an inunctum, an anseps and a smithandium to bloom yet, so I might be getting some more surprises to come. Thanks in advance for any suggestions as to what it is.
     
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  2. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Joanie, B. corolliferum is my first thought as well.
     
  3. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Here is mine that I believed to be B. corolliferum var. atropurpureum. I recently got rid of mine. upload_2020-11-19_20-2-53.jpeg
     
  4. Joanie

    Joanie New Member

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    Thanks Kelly. The other one I was thinking about was pulchellum. I never would have ordered this one. Why did you get rid of yours? Now I am wondering if I am giving those others the right amount of light since they haven't bloomed in a few years since I acquired them. The plants look like they should be large enough to put on at least one flower. Next summer they will be getting more sun than they are getting now.
     
  5. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I have never grown pulchellum but based on IOSPE the flowers are quite small. Both pulchellum and corolliferum are in section Ephippium.

    I got rid of my corolliferum because my greenhouse is overcrowded and I had to make calls on what stayed and what didn’t. I always grew it warm and in bright light (Catt. light) and it bloomed well but the light level bleached the foliage a bit.

    I have inunctum but it has been a shy bloomer. I have grown it shady so perhaps I need to give it more light. Also, the flowers hide down in the foliage.

    I don’t have any experience with the others you mentioned.