John,

Color is typically not considered when identifying orchid species. In fact,
many taxonomists work from reconstituted pressed materials or spirit
preserved flowers.

Each method of preservation does not preserve color - only the morphologic
structure of the flower. Things like the shape, position, and number of
calli and other bug-scale features are used to distinguish one species from
another.

For most orchids, especially epiphytes, the primary pollinator is an insect.
These bumps, ridges, and other features serve to guide the insect to the
target: pollination.

Insects also see in different wavelengths than humans, so the colors we see
are not the colors an insect sees.

That means one must look at a flower in black and white to identify it to
species.

-Eric

"John Varigos" wrote in message
om...
Two Trichocentrum plants were benched at the meeting. The one with a
yellow marked labellum was labelled Trichocentrum pulchrum. The one with
the red marked labellum was labelled Trichocentrum brandtiae. They looked
quite distinct. On checking the names on the Kew Monocots page, they list
Trichocentrum brandtiae as a synonym of Trichocentrum pulchrum. Jay Pfahl
has them as separate species. What do others think? Are they really the
same species? Who would want to be a taxonomist?

This species is found from Venezuela through to Peru.

--
John Varigos
Melbourne, Australia
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