Can't find the stigmatic cavity???

Okay, how about this one: I have a species named Thrixspermum amplexicaule, of the Vandaceous alliance. The flowers open for just a day, but in succession. Once in awhile I find a flower open. I find them attractive in a devious sort of way. Well, I'm always trying to pollinate it. There are no registered crosses with other genera (Rumrill tried several times without success). I'm trying to make history here. I could be known as the guy who... well... did the first Thrix outcross or something.

The problem is, I can't find the stigmatic cavity. This is funny. I have pollinated hundreds of flowers of other genera before without a problem. When I go to pollinate this one, I find no cavity and no stickyness where the stigmatic cavity is supposed to be. I can't get anything to stick to it. The lip is in the right place, right below it, it looks like an inverted white thimble with a very small opening. Only one way in and out, but above it... nothing. Is this weird or what?

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Cheers,

Alex

Hmmmm wonder if its like the gongoras that have a slit or something. Do you have any pictures? I don't think I hae even seen one. On gongoras the stigma is in a different area of the flower than the pollina is.

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Josh

So many orchids and so little time!!

It looks like this, although this is a different species. The actual area under the anther cap is very small and would be hard to photograph. I think it has to be there, I just don't find any sticky area. I've gotten pollen to stick after dipping it in contat lens solution but only barely, and pollination did not result. This is a sequential bloomer, it has potential I think, if I could only figure out what to cross it with. Tried Ascocenda, it didn't work.

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Cheers,

Alex

somebody help me out with dendrobium victoria-reginae!