First Place, Species of the Month, Members Choice, and Speakers Choice:
Cattleya (Guarianthe) bowringiana
Grower: Roy
and Venny Klinger
Our first “four-ribbon” award winner at the plant
table.This magnificent
plant stood about 3 ft tall and 4 ft diameter and was covered with
flowers. The species is native to Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and
Southeast Mexico. Although it has been known as a Cattleya since it was named in
1885, it was moved to the genus
Guarianthe by Dressler & Higgins in 2003. It is a reliable fall
blooming plant that does well in our warm summers.
Second
Place: Aliceara Tropic Tom
‘Kinky’
Grower:
Margaret Bustamante
This nicely colored star shaped orchid was unique
enough to catch the eyes of the judges for the second place ribbon. It was exhibited as a Beallara, but recent name changes in the Oncidium group make it an Aliceara. It is a cross of Alcra. Tropic Splendor and Onc. Marside registered in
2004 by Mauna Kea Orchids. The plant was in great condition without any
spots on the foliage.
Third Place: Catasetum Orchidglade
Grower: Ted
Kellogg
This remake cross (Ctsm.
pilatum x Ctsm. expansum)
was purchased from Blue Pagoda Orchids about four years ago. The
original cross was registered by Jones and Scully in 1974. Ted has
bloomed three plants from this cross, all are different in coloring
(white with spots, yellow with markings and a deep red). The size and form of the flowers improved greatly in the second
blooming year compared to the first year blooms.
This is intense red-purple flowered Dendrobium impressed the judges. This plant presents an interesting name challenge. The plant is available from several vendors on the web – but it is not registered as a hybrid. – It is likely the name Sena Red is a convenience name used by a vendor. Possible, but less likely is that the Sena Red is artifact developed from the name Sianne Red, a cross registered in 1985.
Second Place: Bc. Kosh Wallis ‘Paradise’
Grower: Carol Liddy
A hybrid of B. Little stars by C. Caudebec, the offspring are typical of this type of breeding – a well colored lip with narrow, uniform light colored sepals and petals. The plant is a good grower for our area and can be expected to produce several new leads in a year.
Third Place: Ascda. Theresa Marie
Grower: Carol Liddy
This hybrid of Ascda. Suksamram Spots x V. Doctor. Anek, registered in 2009, has produced a very nice spotted hybrid. Carol’s plant came from Home Depot. Good eye, Carol.
Species of the Month: Rhynchostylis coelestis
Grower: James Thomas
This species was first described as a Saccolabium in 1885, it was moved to the genus Rhynchostylis in 1891. Coelestis is latin for sky blue, a color apparent in the plant shown. It is a summer blooming species from Thailand Cambodia and Vietnam.
Speaker’s Choice & Member’s Choice: Den. Bom JoEar
Grower: Ruth Cress
Another plant that appears to have a name that may have been created by a vendor but was not registered. However, since the name is not on the web, this may be a scrambled tag. The striking red/white color contrast drew the attention of the Speaker and the Members.
First Place and Speaker’s
Choice: Clowesetum Black Jade
‘Green Back’ AM/AOS
Grower: Mary Anne DeGrazia
This striking green
flower comes from a cross of
Clowesia russelliana by
Catasetum expansum.The
plant shown is a division of the plant that Bill Timm showed when
earning the AOS award.Mary
Anne’s division is a young plant just reaching blooming size.
Second
Place: Rhyncholaeliocattleya
Susan Fender ‘Cinnamon Stick’ AM/AOS
Grower:
Tony Nacinovich
Rlc. Susan Fender is probably the most frequently
shown plant on our plant table. It is a beautiful orchid and was selected by Greg Allikas and Ned
Nash as the cover image for their book, The World’s Most Beautiful
Orchids.They state
“Often blooming more than once a year, Pot. Susan Fender ‘Cinnamon
Stick’ AM/AOS can produce flowers that very in color depending on the
temperature and light conditions of the blooming season.” The plant shown had exceptionally dark, even color.
Third
Place: Dendrobium Emma Lai
Grower:
Carol Wood
Carol showed this unregistered, mid-size dendrobium
with lots of flowers.The
pure white flower has as nice lavender-pink throat in the lip. An online search didn’t provide any further information about the
origins of the grex.
Regardless of the name tracing difficulties, it makes a very good lanai
growing plant for our area – dependable, showy and of moderate size.
Members
Choice: Rhyntonleya Jane
Fumiye
Grower:
Jane Camarota
This plant was entered as Otaara Jane. Orchid registration records do not have such a plant. As an Otaara (a genera
probably no longer valid) it had
Brassavola, Broughtonia, Cattleya, and Laelia in its background. Although this group has several name changes, the flowers show
the influence of Broughtonia.
Further research found a plant,
Rhyntonleya Jane Fumiye that strongly resembles the plant shown. The background reflects the breeding of an Otaara, and the addition of
Fumiye is needed to correct a missing part of a tag.
This is another case when naming the orchid is much
harder than appreciating it. Members found the cluster of bright pink
flowers held well above the foliage very attractive.