Bulb othornis

[LauraN]

Sue and I each bought one of these and within weeks they put out flowers. Hard little suckers to photograph though. Maybe I'll have better luck on the next blooming!

[tuvoc]

Strange, but lovely little thing, Laura. The name makes me wonder about the 'odoratissimum'.

Kim

[LauraN]

I don't remember if it had a scent or not...
I don't recall that it did, either that of it wasn't stinky...I usually remember the stinky ones and since Sue didn't complain about hers, it must not have been unbearable! LOL

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

???

Sorry to break it to you, but that doesn't look like a Bulb. odoratissimum.

That looks like it's either a Bulb purpurascens or Bulb othornis. Both rare and exceptional plants.

These may not smell nice, but the real Bulb odoratissimum does (kinda like oranges, if I remember correctly).

Bulb odoratissimum have tiny triangular flowers arranged in a pom-pom like fashion atop short stocky flower spikes. They're white (cream) with yellow or yellow-orange tips. The lips are tiny and are also yellow or yellow orange.

The pseudobulbs on a Bulb odoratissimum is short and cylindrical with an almost rectangular singular leaf. Each psuedobulb grows along a thin rambling rhizome far apart from each other (about 1" to 1 1/2" apart).

The real Bulb odoratissimum is a real winner for those who love Bulbos but don't like stinkers.

Bulb odoratissimum:

http://www.sikkimorchids.com/images/...ratissimum.jpg

Bulb purpurascens:

http://green-drop-home.com/zencart/i...rpurascens.jpg

Bulb othornis:

http://www.angelstreetorchids.com/bulbothornis.html

Nice plant you have there btw.

[LauraN]

Oh my goodness! Right you are King of Orchid growing...Guess I just looked at the first "O" bulb name that I saw...It is indeed orthornis!

[boytjie]

I was also wondering about that ID. Thanks for clarifying.

[cb977]

I fixed the title thread for you

[whygreenberg]

Oooh! Wow. That's beautiful, Laura! *LOVE* it!! So pretty!

[LauraN]

Thanks Sue for fixing it!

[gnathaniel]

Can anyone clarify the difference btw purpurascens and othonis? From pictures I've seen with these labels the two species look remarkably similar, but of course photographs don't always capture every relevant taxonomical detail. What am I missing? I see that the CITES bulbo checklist (Bulbophyllum-Checklist) has them both listed separately, not as synonyms... Thanks!

Nat