Plant Table Awards, June 1, 2011
In June, 29 plants from 10 exhibitors were shown.
First Place: Unknown Cattleya Hybrid.
Grower: Bryan Herd
Judges were attracted to this bifoliate Cattleya hybrid’s yellow flowers even without knowing the name of the plant. After a bit of research, I think it us probably Rhyncholaeliacattleya Tatarown. A plant very similar to the one shown is available through at least one local dealer, “Camp lot a Noise Tropicals.” Rlc. Tatarown is a hybrid of Rlc. Memoria Helen Brown and C. guttata, first registered in 1982.
Second Place: Rhynchostylis retusa
Grower: James Thomas
A nice display of four gracefully arched inflorescences made this plant a ribbon winner. The species grows in many Southeast Asian countries and like many widely distributed species is has known color forms varying from white to pink, lavender and blue shades. It likes to be grown warm year round – in its native growing regions the temperature averages no lower than 60 or higher than 85.
Third Place and Members Choice: BC Hippodamia ‘Hunabu’ AM/AOS
Grower: Carol Wood
Carol purchased this plant from Fender’s Floral. It is a division of the AM awarded clone (1999). The same clone had received an HCC award a year earlier. It is a hybrid of Brassavola nodosa and Cattleya aclandiae. Often crosses of this type fail to show spotting, this hybrid has produced plants with the spotted lip and with a clear colored lip.
Species of the Month and Speaker’s Choice: Encyclia tampensis
Grower: Bill Timm
Encyclia tampensis is the showiest native species in this part of Florida. The judges and speaker selected this plant because it is typical of the species. Several forms of this species can be found growing in the nearby Myakka River State Park.