Dendrochilum No ID

[Rudy]

This is the second Dendrochilum I purchased at the Orchid Show in Vaucelles, France. The show started on Thursday and lasts until Monday.
It had very impressive displays. A pity I did not take my camera along.
Can anyone help with the ID?

[jimec]

Hi Rudy,

It is impossible to identify these species without a close-up image of the flowers. If the plant is still in flower maybe you can post some close-up images.

All the best,

Jim Cootes
Author
The Orchids of the Philippines
Times Editions, Singapore, 2001

[Rudy]

Hello Jim,

It's awfully difficult to get a good close-up of these tiny flowers.
Unfortunately I don't have the right equipment.
These are the best shots I could get with the baby lens of my daughter.


Hope they are good enough 'to do the job'.
FYI the plant is only about 10-12 cms high.
Thanks for your interest!!!

Rudy

[cxcanh]

Is this a Dendrobium??? it strange to me as a Dend.

[walingwaling]

hmmm, cant help with the id.
its a unique shape though, hopefully jim can id it.

[jimec]

Hi Rudy,

I still cannot identify your Dendrochilum species, even with the close-up images.

As Ronny says the shape of the blooms is interesting. Just remember most botanical work is done with dried, pressed flowers which lose their shape in the drying process.

My suggestion would be to preserve the flowers in a mixture of 65% alcohol, 30% water and 5% glycerine. The glycerine is most important as it keeps the flowers soft and useable. Without glycerine the flowers will shatter once touched.

There is a botanist/taxonomist in Copenhagen who is a specialist in the genus Dendrochilum.

Get in touch with me, off the forum, and I will give you more information.

All the best,

Jim Cootes
Author
The Orchids of the Philippines
Times Editions, Singapore, 2001

[Rudy]

Hello Jim,
Being a junior member on the forum I am not quite sure how I get in touch off-line. I tried by sending a private message after clicking on your avatar but that does not seem to work as you are not accepting private messages (nor was I until I learned about this feature a few minutes ago).
I will not be able to get the solution (with the ethanol, glycerine etc.) in house until the coming weekend and my flowers are fading quickly.
Therefore I am a bit worried that time will have run out by then.
Brgds,
Rudy

[jimec]

Hi Rudy,

Well the next best thing to do is to grow the plant very well, and when it flowers again next year, you can then preserve the flowers.

All the best,

Jim Cootes
Author
The Orchids of the Philippines
Times Editions, Singapore, 2001

[Rudy]

Hi Jim,
The flowers were indeed 'gone' by the weekend.
I'll do my best to get the plant blooming again next year.
FYI it has two tiny seedpots on it (from last year I assume).
Cheers,
Rudy

[Rudy]

I have the Dendrochilum which I showed last year flowering again and took some more detailed pictures.




The latter picture shows how the stem looks like before the flowers are opening.
Maybe someone can come up with ID this time around?