Paph hirsutissimum

[SlipperKing]

What do you all think, hirsutissimum or esquirolei?
bud some weeks ago

A few days ago

Today, less green as it matures

 

[Rick]

Well that's definitely hairier than the one I just had bloom, and the leaves look floppier.

What's the flower size?

 

[SlipperKing]

I would say smaller then I was expecting. I'd have to run out an measure.

 

[SlipperFan]

Truthfully, I don't see any difference between hirsutissimum or esquirolei.

 

[Rick]

Truthfully, I don't see any difference between hirsutissimum or esquirolei.

Certainly way to subtle to make them different species. There's probably no clear demarcation in natural populations either.

 

[cabnc]

Are there any keys to getting hirsutissimum to bloom ? Cooler evenings ? Shorter daylight ?? Less water ???

Charlie

 

[Susie11]

Nice.

 

[SlipperKing]

Are there any keys to getting hirsutissimum to bloom ? Cooler evenings ? Shorter daylight ?? Less water ???

Charlie

The original hirsutissimums came from cooler area then esquirolei. I try to find the coldest part of the gh to house the plants over winter. It helps if they're large plants too.

 

[NYEric]

Are there any keys to getting hirsutissimum to bloom ? Cooler evenings ? Shorter daylight ?? Less water ???

Charlie

Buy one in bud!

 

[Carper]

Nice shape and colour to this. What are suppose to be the differences between the 2 species if any?

Gary
UK

 

[SlipperFan]

Nice shape and colour to this. What are suppose to be the differences between the 2 species if any?

Gary
UK

From what I've read, the hairs on hirsutissimum are supposed to be longer than esquirolei, and the petals more floppy? But this seems so arbitrary, and within variations of a species. I'm not usually a lumper, but in this case, I am.

 

[Leo_5313]

From what I've read, the hairs on hirsutissimum are supposed to be longer than esquirolei, and the petals more floppy? But this seems so arbitrary, and within variations of a species. I'm not usually a lumper, but in this case, I am.

Well said. We need genetic test too see if they are supposedly different species.

 

[mrhappyrotter]

Either way, this species/theses species are interesting enough that one or both are on my wish list.

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

In my limited experience, hirsutissimum has broader, floppier leaves, blooms easily, and likes cool- not cold- temperatures. Esquirolei has narrower, thicker, stiffer leaves. Spikes easily but blasts even more easily. Never had a problem blooming hirsutissimum. Never could bloom esquirolei- the buds would always blast.

 

[cabnc]

NYEric,

I bought a multi growth plant with 3 flower spikes last march. I could not get it to rebloom this winter

Charlie

 

[Trithor]

I have both species in my collection. I would agree with the leaf morphology as described above. As for flowering, I would hazzard that it is cultural as to weather you percieve them to be easy or difficult. If you grow them in the same greenhouse/growing area, and one flowers easily, the other will prove difficult as their requirements are different. The flowers are slightly different, if that is enough to make them sepparate species, varieties or geographical variations, .....?

 

[emydura]

They are definately not worthy of separate species status. I agree about the difference in leaf morphology. They are difficult to flower. It has been a while since my esquirolei flowered. I get the odd flower on my hirsutissimum but it is a large plant.

 

[Carper]

In my limited experience, hirsutissimum has broader, floppier leaves, blooms easily, and likes cool- not cold- temperatures. Esquirolei has narrower, thicker, stiffer leaves. Spikes easily but blasts even more easily. Never had a problem blooming hirsutissimum. Never could bloom esquirolei- the buds would always blast.

That's interesting as I bought an esquirolei last summer. It had 4 growths, 2 of which threw spikes 2 in November. They just sat there until about Feb when the sheaths began to grow. Then when they reached about an inch, one of the buds just blasted for no reason. Fortunately the other has a good spike and the stem/bloom looks very "hairy" Looking forward to the bloom within the next few weeks. I do have a hirsutissmum that is also spiking so may be able to compare. My humidity has been dry until late, around the 40% but is now 60% so wondered if this was the cause or is just the plant!

Gary

 

[Rick]

I've had very little blasting of either of my two types of "hirsutisimum".

I usually get at least one flower/pot. But there could be upwards of 50 growths in a pot.

Given the limestone/cliff habit of this species, and seeing more succesful blooming occuring with very large numbers of growths in a pot, I would guess that the blooming issues have more to do with excess nutrition (N and K) rather than temps.

This is similar to the problems some have blooming Maxilaria tenufolia. Either it needs to be huge specimen or it gets ignored on the compost heap for a year to get it to bloom.

Try starving them for a year.

 

[SlipperKing]

Koopowitz also adds, in his Tropical Slipper Orchids book,page 141, hirsutissimum not only has a hairier stem but its also shorter(approx 6 inches) then what is found in esquirolei (approx. 12 inches). Another interesting fact he mentions is the length in time it takes for a seed capsule to mature on hirsutissimum, 15 to 18 months where esquirolei is the standard 6-9 months. This I've not heard before.
I will have to self my plant is what happens.