Safe to buy? - Orchid Board

Purpoh · #1 12-11-2016, 02:31 AM

Hello! I am tempted to buy an angraecum obesum on ebay but the line in the description "Seedling from a Madagascar sourced mother plant" is making me a bit nervous. I don't want to buy any poached plant. Is this plant safe to buy?

Orchid Whisperer · #2 12-11-2016, 05:37 AM

I would be concerned too. That is an IUCN "Red List" plant.

Ask the seller straight up "is this a seed grown plant originating in the United States?". If you are not given an unequivocal "yes", walk away.

LA orchids has had this one occasionally.

AnonYMouse · #3 12-11-2016, 06:47 AM

The only one on the block at ebay is from LA Orchids. They are very reputable.

In the future, please link the item in question. In this case, there was only one at ebay but other times, there may be multiple plants and sellers.

PaphMadMan · #4 12-11-2016, 11:40 AM

A phrase like "Madagascar sourced" does not at all imply poached plants. All orchids obviously come from the wild originally. In this case it is probably meant to let specialist collectors know the source region and trueness to wild type of the parent plant(s). That is more important to Angraecoid collectors than many others.

Orchid Whisperer · #5 12-11-2016, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

The only one on the block at ebay is from LA Orchids. They are very reputable.

In the future, please link the item in question. In this case, there was only one at ebay but other times, there may be multiple plants and sellers.

Anon Y Mouse, thanks for checinkg Ebay, I didn't think to try that!

Purpoh · #6 12-11-2016, 12:37 PM

Oh I'm glad that it's good. I'm a little nervous about putting links to sellers because other plant forums I go on ban it. Next time I will though, thanks.

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AnonYMouse · #7 12-11-2016, 08:02 PM

I know some forums ban all links. I think it's unfortunate they have a blanket policy. I like my data from as original a source as I can get. It's too easy to get sucked into one person's speculation as fact or misread a quote out of context.

This one was easy, a familiar vendor but we have seen other suspicious sources and have discussed possible implications of purchases. Links make it easier for us, with images, names, conditions, etc.

The bunch on this board can potentially tear apart an dubious item!