I recently received a bonus plant with a purchase of phrag d'alessandroi from the west coast. It was a large clump of phrag pearcei, and had one old flower on it. Today, I was looking up culture for a few plants in the species culture book by charles and margaret baker and looked up pearcei. I noted in the 'flowers' section that pearcei and caricinum often have their names switched in commerce (or at least some caricinum could be labeled pearcei), and they stated that pearcei was only supposed to have one flower per inflorescence, while caricinum could have three to seven. I looked around and saw that orchids limited was selling pearcei and they described the species as multifloral. The flower on this plant was it's third on that inflorescence.
question - is there anyone who has taxonomic records that state whether or not pearcei is multifloral or not? I'd like to have the right name of course, but have seen that there may be a species complex of those small phrag species so there may really no clear-cut determination between species like we all would prefer... (meaning I don't know anything about them but would like to!) I'm very happy about the plant, just would like to know if the name is correct.
thanks,
charles
I don't have a picture of the flower, it fell off not long after the box was opened, didn't think I'd need a pic
question - is there anyone who has taxonomic records that state whether or not pearcei is multifloral or not? I'd like to have the right name of course, but have seen that there may be a species complex of those small phrag species so there may really no clear-cut determination between species like we all would prefer... (meaning I don't know anything about them but would like to!) I'm very happy about the plant, just would like to know if the name is correct.
thanks,
charles
I don't have a picture of the flower, it fell off not long after the box was opened, didn't think I'd need a pic