unknown 'flat' orchid w/ pitting

[dneafse]

Hello,

I'm relatively new to orchids. I recently received this plant from a friend of mine, who had no idea what it was. Any clues?


In addition, it seems that this orchid has about a dozen very tiny black pits on its leaves.



I've compared the spots to pictures of various fungal and viral infections, as well as to pics of mite damage, and they don't quite match up. I haven't seen any slime trails from slugs or snails. My friend was keeping this orchid in his backyard in S. Florida. Any clues as to what mystery malady is afflicting my mystery orchid? [I considered putting this in the pests & disease forum, but didn't want my first action on this forum to be a double-post ].

Thanks in advance for any insights.

Dan

[harrywitmore]

Looks like Dendrobium anceps to me. Not sure about the pits on the leaves though.

[justatypn]

You did fine Dan, will leave it here as you have 2 parts to your question.

My guess is a virus. There are many virus diseases of orchids and the symptoms vary considerably with the type of virus, genus, and environmental conditions. Possibly necrotic pitting of leaves. Once plants are infected, they cannot be cured so it is often prudent to destroy them in order to reduce the risk of spread to healthy plants. Since the predominant means for the spread of virus diseases is mechanical (spread during dividing of plants) careful attention to sanitation and handling is very important.

[dneafse]

Thanks for help in identifying the patient and the pathogen.

Sorry to hear it's not treatable. I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.

Guess this plant wasn't destined to be my first Dendrobium. . .

Dan

[Ross]

It might have been destined to be the first that your rogue Dendro that killed you though Dendros are known, amongst some of us, as plants that just up and die for no known reason. I don't think this little guy qualifies, if we know the reason, however. If we know that it has a virus, it doesn't qualify as a rogue.