What are they?

[DroseraBug]

Hi,

I'm a cper and know virtually nothing about tropical orchids other than the difference between cattleyas and paphs. What are these? Pics were taken at UNC Charlotte.

 

[JB_OrchidGuy]

The top one is a species phalonopsis and the second lookes like a nobile dendrobium to me.

 

[herenorthere]

I agree, except that there are some hybrid Phals that are similar. If I had to guess, however, I'd say it's a Phal pallens:

I'm no expert about identification, by the way, and the only reason I have any confidence about that one is that one of my four remaining "tropical" orchids is a Phal pallens var. denticulata. It's a terrific small-growing Phal species. I've kept only 4 of the ~100 orchids I had as recently as a few years ago and that's one. Mine might end up in this year's NASC auction.

As for the dendrobium, that one doesn't look like it's the species Dendrobium nobile, but instead it's what's known as a nobile-type. That includes lots of hybrids and some other species too. Those are nice plants too. My favorite is Dendrobium aphyllum and I either traded or gave mine away.

 

[JB_OrchidGuy]

Yeah Bruce. Sorry my slip on words. When I say nobile dendrobium I am refuring to the nobile type. I wasn't sure what it was other than that type that drops its leaves then blooms on the leafless canes. And if you have pallens and it looks like that. I might have to bid on it or get it out of you in a trade somehow.