| Author | Content |
jjonhawaii
Volcano, HI
October 30, 2008
12:36 PM Post #5733550
| Thanks so much to everyone that participates in this forum.
I learn something everyday! Okay I have another for the
super sleuths here. Found this one deep in the Thai rainforest
clinging to a crack in a steep granite face carved by a gushing
waterfall. It is so petite and beautiful and only about 5 inches
tall. The flowers are about 1.5 inches long. Have never seen a
flower shape of this design before...
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
October 30, 2008
04:20 PM Post #5734192
| WOW!
It looks like an Orchid, but I am not able to place it in a Genus. It must be very rare!
Glad you are paying attention when you go hiking!
Aloha, Dave |
Malus2006
Coon Rapids, MN
(Zone 4a)
October 30, 2008
06:21 PM Post #5734572
| Orchid - yes - rare - maybe - it depends - orchids from certain climates can be difficult to grow thus their limited availability in cultivation - tropical alpine species is one - many collectors have to provide the cool night temperatures that they need and the foggy humidity. I think I have seen some similar orchids to this picture but I can't remember their name and they were pretty small flowering by compare. |
Metrosideros
Keaau, HI
October 30, 2008
09:39 PM Post #5735211
| JJon's plant is not in cultivation. It was discovered in the wild.
I believe that JJon has found a rare and endangered species of orchid. Being an epiphyte by a waterfall is very limiting on a species homeostasis (they can't travel too far to survive). I hope that JJon keeps showing us these plants that few have ever seen!!! |
jjonhawaii
Volcano, HI
October 31, 2008
01:22 PM Post #5737172
| Hey guys, Thanks. Yes I thought it was an orchid too, but couldn't
confirm. The plants' leaves were dead and droopy, with the flowers
standing upright. Saw lotsa unusual plants in the hills over Trang
but had to watch for snakes, and monitor lizards, and leaches when
it was time for a swim. Then the crazy daily thunderstorm would set
in about noontime and put the kabash on safe exploring, and start
some flash flooding, and threaten the experience. 'Twas an adventure.
Will put my Thai friends on guard to keep an eye out for the unusual,
and ask if they can send pix of more like this... |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9a)
October 31, 2008
01:41 PM Post #5737244
| It sure is a beauty! I would have never known it was an orchid. I googled for orchids of Thailand and found some interesting ones I had never heard of, Mokara and Aranda: http://www.siam-orchids.com/Orchids.htm |
Malus2006
Coon Rapids, MN
(Zone 4a)
October 31, 2008
06:30 PM Post #5737976
| I did say maybe in the first post - meaning I am not sure. I didn't say no it is not rare - I was just saying be a bit careful. Some of the common orchids grown in cultivation is actually rare in the wild or only found in a certain area. I am pretty sure I have seen the family or the genus somewhere, just not commonly grown but the flowers that I had seen was pretty small, one inch or less. Not that big! Look like one petal have grown to huge size while the others are reduced or absent. I also remember Thailand being one of the bigger export of orchids, mainly dendr... something but also the other two of the big three - moth orchids and lady slippers. |
EMBeyer
Grafschaft, Germany
January 12, 2009
04:17 PM Post #5997208
| This seems to be Habenaria rhodocheila Hance. I have a book on Thai orchids, written in Thai by a Thai botanist. She gives pictures of this species that are very similar to jjonhawaii's picture (which is upide down).
Erwin |
imadigger
Palm Bay, FL
(Zone 9b)
January 12, 2009
04:32 PM Post #5997259
| EMBayer, you are right on the money. Here's a link to info on this unusual orchid.
http://www.speciesorchids.com/HabenariaRhodocheila.html |
Malus2006
Coon Rapids, MN
(Zone 4a)
January 12, 2009
11:41 PM Post #5999285
| Ah yes that's the one! Lovely pictures too! Rocks is its favorite habitation so the fact that the waterfall is there is could be mere coindence as this species grow on most exposed rocks in this area but it could be like trillium here - once they were widespread but when large amount of their forests fell, and then the forests comes back they don't come back because they are limited by their short distance seeding and their main ability to vegetative reproduction. |
jjonhawaii
Volcano, HI
February 03, 2009
05:13 PM Post #6088908
| Ahhhh. Habenaria rhodocheila. Of course. Thanks so much
everybody. Marked as solved. |
