Trying to ID an Orchid Collection at Local College
 

Hey,
I've recently assumed care of the small orchid collection at my local college greenhouse. I'm new at this orchid thing - only got into it a few years ago when I took over our houseplants and managed to get the orchids we had blooming again. So, I don't know much about ID, just about how to keep the orchids generally happy. Problem: while there is a list of names that came with the collection, it's been 10 yrs or so since the collection was donated and the labels were not kept up. There is the beginning of a book of identified photographs, but it was never completed and not all of the photographs are of good quality. I'm slowly working on matching photos with plants as they bloom (and taking better photos), but I'm running into some I can't ID with the resources I have. I would also like to double check the ones I think I have ID'd correctly.
I tried the ever helpful 'Google', but that didn't bring any results. The sorts of names I have to work with are: examples - Phalanopsis Zauberrose 'Mendenhall' x Phal. Lyric Serenade 'Zephyr' ; Phalaenopsis Heritage ; Brassolaeliocattleya Green Heart 'Imperal Jade' x Blc. 'Diane K. Sauleda' ; etc and so on.
Does anyone know of a ID source for cultivars I could use? Or if I posted a list of names, would any of you be able to help me find photos so that when the plants come into bloom I can match them with their proper name? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.

:waving Hello and welcome to Orchid Board!

You have come to the right place. Over the next day or so you will get a lot of help with that. I have no suggestions myself as I have many orchids with missing tags, too. The species will be easier to identify. The hybrids can be very difficult or impossible. However you have a list of names and that will really help.

When you have a chance, post all the pictures you have and the list of names. This could be a really fun time for some of our members. An orchid match game!

Also, which college has this greenhouse? Be sure to fill in the info on your profile that includes your zone. That helps the rest of us know more about your growing conditions.

Once again, welcome and good luck!

Welcome to OB!

Post away. We are here to assist.

Photos and List of Orchids
The college is Virginia Western Community College (VWCC). I've put all the photos in my Gallery of the orchids that have bloomed since I have taken over care. More will be added as they bloom. All labels in the photos are ones that I have written based on IDs from the unfinished photo book. Below is the list of names for the collection, as written:
Note: All marked by ** were owned by a former administrator of the greenhouse and may no longer be in the collection.
(Edit: I have updated this list to reflect the information you have helped me collect so far and the plants I've been able to label from the photo book. All marked with a + now have a label. I still need help with the rest. Many are no longer in existence as the amount of unidentified plants is much smaller than number of names left.
Of the unknowns: 7 are Phalaenopsis, 2 are Paphiopedlium, 7 are Cattleya or Cattleya variants, 1 is a Dendrobium (white with lt purple veins that fade to pure white), 1 is an unknown type with a 1’ tall floppy crinkled leaf, 1 is an unknown bulbed type, 4 are probably Encyclia adenocaula but haven’t bloomed yet, and 2 are probably Coelogyne cristata but haven’t bloomed yet.
Many are shown in my gallery and the rest will be added as they bloom.

+ Brassavola nodosa ‘Lady of the Night’
Brassia 'Rex Sakata' **
Brownara 'Nora Ruby'
+Coelogyne cristata
+ Cymbidium Arroyoburro ‘Louise’
Degarmoara Landon ‘Yoshida’ **
+ Dendrobium aggregatum
+ Dendrobium melones
Dendrobium
Dendrobium ‘Mary Strouse’
+ Encyclia adenocaula ‘Paul’
+ Epicattleya ‘Lollipop’
+ Epidendrum (Reed) Young
+ Cattleya ‘Little Angel’ x B. digbyana Mrs. Chase
Cattleya ‘Ruth M. Johnston’ x C. Brighton ‘Mendenhall’
Cattleya Aristocrat Perfection x LC. ‘Winter Belle’
Cattleya Athena Chagaris ‘Bob’s Pride’ x C. Old Whitey ‘Mt. Empress’ AM/AOS
+ Cattleya Chocolate Drop ‘Kodama’ x SLC. Brandywine ‘Cherry Tart’ **
+ Cattleya unnamed (white/yellow throat)
Cattleya (VWCC)
Cattleya Dr. Walke’s unknown
Brassiolaeliocattleya Green Heart ‘Imperial Jade’ x BLC. ‘Diane K. Sauleda’
BLC. Harlequin ‘Act I’ AM/AOS x BLC. Oconee ‘Mendenhall’ AM/AOS
Laeliocattleya Ann Follis ‘Sunny Hills’ HCC/AOS x B. digbyana ‘Mrs. Chase’ AM/AOS
LC. Jose Dias Castro ‘Magnifica’ x LC. Mem. ‘Buddy Clark’
Sophrolaeliocattleya Ten-e-Jewel SM/HCC x LOW. Spitfire ‘Red Hot’ HCC
+ Cattleya ‘Sans Souci’
+ Ludisia discolor
Odontoglossum Annaliese Rothenberger
Oncidium ‘Gower Ramsey’
+ Oncidium sphaletum

EQUITANT ONCIDIUMS
Onc. Tender Love ‘Richella’ AM/AOS x Onc. Stunner ‘Richella’ AM/AOS
Onc. Golden Sunset x Onc. Stunner ‘Richella’ AM/AOS
Onc. Golden Sunset x Onc. triquetrum
Onc. Golden Sunset x Onc. Robsan
Onc. Angel Face x Onc. Batik
Onc. Savanna La Mar ‘Golden Galaxy’
Onc. ‘Red Belt’ x Onc. ‘Tiny Tim’
Onc. ‘By Golly’ OR/HOS x Onc. Oh Me ‘Richella’
Onc. seedling I x SC 3642
RDCM. x Onc. Missy

PAPHIOPEDILUM (MOTTLED FOLIAGE)
Paph. Maudiae ‘Bankhouse’
+ Paph. Maudiae
Paph. ciliolare
Paph. callosum
+ Paph. sublaeve
Paph. venustrum
Paph. Roseville
Paph. Javanicum x Angthong

PAPHIOPEDILUM (GREEN FOLIAGE)
+ Paph. Pacific Hi-Lo
Paph. Rosy Dawn
+ Paph. London Wall x Paph. Shelia Hanes
Paph. philippinese
Paph. Via Sonrisa
+ Paph. spicerianum
+ Paph. Rowbourn ‘Mont Millais’ Paph. Radley ‘Lane End’
+ Paph. Prime Time ‘Breath of Spring’ x Paph. (La Honda x Malibu) ‘82874’

Phalaenopsis Heritage
Phal. Gladys Reed ‘St. Louis’ AM/AOS x Phal. Richard Shaffer ‘Santa Cruz’ AM/AOS
Phal. Keichenta ‘Carmella Orchids’ x Phal. Betty Sistrunk ‘Carmella Orchids’
+ Phal. Polar Bear x Phal. Denie Kellogg’s
Phal. Zuma Glitter (Viroonchan ‘Malibu Queen’) HCC/AOS x Phal. Zuma ‘Lipstick Bonsall’
Phal.
+ Phal. Barbara Freed Saltzman ‘Jean McPherson’ AM/AOS x Phal. Scaramouche x Sara Bande ‘Spotted Johs’
+ Phal. Magdalene Acker ‘Vera’ x Phal. Diane Rigg ‘Pink Mist’
Phal. Zauberrose ‘Mendenhall’ x Phal. Lyric Serenade ‘Zephyr’
Doritis pulcherrima var.buyssoniana
+ Vanda Ben Berliner x Vanda kimballiana
Vuylstekeara ‘Edna Stamperland’ FCC/AOS (Miltonia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum)**

September 1993 Additions
Cattleya ‘Trianai Alba’ x C. ‘Lueddgmanniana Alba’
+ Cymbidium ‘Pathfinder’ (miniature)
Onc. WqFA Browning Island ‘Wanderlust’
Phaius grandifolius (Nun’s Hood)
Paph. ‘Faire Maud’
Paph. ‘Faire Maud #1 Alba’
Paph. callosum
Paph. sukhakulii ‘Muscles’ AM/AOS xpaph. Sukhakulii ‘Galaxy’ HCC/AOS
Paph. barbatum
Paph. ‘Micranthum’
Paph. ‘Wardii’
Phal. ‘Carmela’s Dream’
Phal. ‘Rudy Parma’ x (‘Joseph Hampton’ x ‘Kenneth Benjamin’)
Phal. ‘Round Wonder’ x DTPS ‘Zuma White Puff’
+ Phal. ‘Crosahart’ x Micha 41 x Herb Hagen ‘Pink Panther’ AM/AOS

If you don't have it id-ed already, Den. aggregatum is probably identifiable without flowers, it is pretty distinctive in pseudobulb shape, each topped with one leaf. Here's a decent pic of a non-blooming one
http://www.ironwoodorchids.com/image...0Majus%202.JPG
The loddigessi, nobile, and kingianum will be easy to id when they flower (as would aggregatum). Brassia Rex 'Sakata' will be wasy when it flowers, that particular clone is very identifiable. Both Onc. Gower Ramsey and sphacelatum are also easy to id in flower, based on the list of plant to choose from. Just keep posting as you get plants in flower!

Continuing the Hunt
 

You are correct orkie. Den. aggregatum is an easy id. It also, when I doublechecked, was one of the few that actually had a readable label, so that one is id'd even though it hasn't bloomed yet. Thanks.
I'm adding two more orchids to the gallery. One is a Phalaenopsis very similar to Phalaenopsis Magdalene Aker 'Vera' x Diane Rigg 'Pink Mist', but the leaf color is very different -med green vs. dk green overlaid with purple- and there are subtle differences in the bloom coloring, which are obvious if they are compared side by side.
Whew! No wonder it is so hard to specifically id unlabeled orchids.
The other orchid thankfully has its label, so no problems there.

I would suggest working with your local orchid society for some help. Most of these groups have experts that are quite willing........

Just what is yer idea of large? :rofl: