Dendrobium formosum

[Dorsetman]

I just googled 'petaloid' - apparently it means that the lip is more like a petal . I suppose the point here is that the lip usually has some kind of ribs, or grooves, or lines of hairs or of colour , all of which act as guides directing or leading the pollinator to the column. Even the coloured patch itself does that. But the lip here in this petaloid form looks top be completely innocent of anything like that.
The interesting question then is does this orchid ever get pollinated ? Or is it an evolutionary dead-end ?
I don't suppose we shall ever know !

[Azizan]

Actually the flower reminds me of Aerangis luteoalba var. rhodosticta.

[oile]

beautiful, fovoloso.

[EMos]

Very beautiful!

[sciencegal]

I just googled 'petaloid' - apparently it means that the lip is more like a petal . I suppose the point here is that the lip usually has some kind of ribs, or grooves, or lines of hairs or of colour , all of which act as guides directing or leading the pollinator to the column. Even the coloured patch itself does that. But the lip here in this petaloid form looks top be completely innocent of anything like that.
The interesting question then is does this orchid ever get pollinated ? Or is it an evolutionary dead-end ?
I don't suppose we shall ever know !

The blossom is supposed to be fragrant so maybe that is enough to draw in a pollinator. It would go to origin of the fragrance, perhaps??

Another thought,

Flowers have ultraviolet patters that only insects can see. A flower might look solid yellow to our eyes but can be very light with a dark center to a bee. So, while the formosum flower might have lost its yellow center it still might have an ultraviolet center.

[Dorsetman]

All very true ; I am off to Thailand and perhaps Laos in March ( on a conducted orchid tour) we shall no doubt visit many orchid farms as well as - hopefully - seeing lots in the wild - the tour runs every year, and last year saw over 50 different species flowering. in the wild. ( My wife is going into a nursing home for the 2 weeks, as 'respite care' -my respite, her care...). Of course it is too much to hope for, to see any one particular species, or variety, in the wild, but I shall be on the look out !

[ksriramkumar]

Very nice to hear about your tour Geoff. Wishing all the very best and looking fwd to pictures.

[Azizan]

All very true ; I am off to Thailand and perhaps Laos in March ( on a conducted orchid tour) we shall no doubt visit many orchid farms as well as - hopefully - seeing lots in the wild - the tour runs every year, and last year saw over 50 different species flowering. in the wild. ( My wife is going into a nursing home for the 2 weeks, as 'respite care' -my respite, her care...). Of course it is too much to hope for, to see any one particular species, or variety, in the wild, but I shall be on the look out !

Don't forget pictures~ I mean lots of them please

[JDT]

I would agree with Zzizan & Sriram...lots of pictures!!

[Chris in Hamilton]

Agreed, you must take lots of pictures Geoff! I don't know if the petaloid form exists in the wild. Could be a horticultural sport. Sriram saw it in Bangkok but there seems to be only two Japanese growers that offer it online ( quite expensive for a 3" pot) and they are both advertised as self's. Zainal, did you get your's in Malaysia? Love to find one!