Sept 2003 Plant Table

Show Table September 2003

Monthly meetings include a show table of members’ plants. Six ribbons are awarded each month: four awards are selected by an alternating team of three VAOS member judges. These awards are: one for Best Species, and a First, Second and Third place award to any plant. The monthly speaker chooses the Speaker’s Choice and the VAOS members vote on the plant for Members’ Choice. The following section describes each of these awards for September 2003. In September there was a three-way tie in the voting for Members’ Choice. To view a larger image, click on the photograph.

Trichoglottis atropurpurea First Place Award and Species Award: Trichoglottis philippinensis v.brachiata

Grower: Mark Rausch

A plant with three branches of growth., each in flower. The plant had 15 flowers, large for the type, and five buds.

This easily recognized plant has been grown under a variety of names. The plant was exhibited as T. brachiata v. philippinense; the AOS award system uses the name shown above. More recently, the elevation of this form to a distinct species requires the early name T. purpurea, not T. brachiata. Of course, all name variations will exist in horticultural use for some time.

Dendrochilum mangum 'suwada' Second Place Award and Members’ Choice Award: Dendrochilum magnum ‘Suwada’

Grower: Charlie Rose.

Dendrochilums are wonderful specimen plants with their green foliage surrounded by the pendant flower sprays. The exhibited plant had 10 inflorescences at the peak of their bloom. The species D. mangnum was first described in 1861. The first AOS award (CBR) to this species was in 1980 to the form ‘Marie Selby’. The most recent CCM/AOS in 2000 was a plant with 3078 flowers and 480 buds on 42 inflorescences – keep growing this one Charlie!

Brassavola nodosa Third Place Award: Brassavola nodosa

Grower: Jean Terrana.

Brassavola nodosa remains a favorite among growers because of its ease of culture and its free flowering habit. The exhibited plant had nine spikes of two to five flowers each, with all flowers in pristine condition.

angraecum leonis Speaker’s Commendation: Angraecum leonis

Grower: Richard Amos

This well grown plant of several growths had eight infloresences with 10 flowers and at least 16 buds. A. leonis was first described in 1885 but has been known by differnent names such as Aeranthes leonis, Angraecum humboltii and Mystacidium leonis. Its first AOS award (CBM) was in 1960 and its most recent award (CCM) in 1995. The exhibited plant is nearly as floriferous as the latest CCM.

Odbrs. Fangtastic Bob Henley2 Members Choice Award: Odbrs. Fangtastic Bob Henley ‘HOF Octopus’

Grower: Monroe Kokin.

A hybrid of Brs. Rex by Odbrs. Kenneth Bivin had a single spike plant of eight flowers. The hybrid was registed in 1999.

C.  Bactia Members Choice Award: Catteya Bactia ‘Forever Yours’ AM/AOS

Grower: Connie Waymer.

One large erect inflorescense with about 20 waxy, plum-violet flowers. This clone received its AM award in 1967 and has maintained its stature over time.

This cross of C. bowringiana x C. guttata was registered in 1901. It has been used as a parent in 13 hybrids and once appears as a grandparent. It is probably too soon to judge its use as a parent – many of the crosses have been registered in the last five years.

Judges: Bill Timm, Betsy Scevola, George Walker

46 plants from 19 exhibitors were shown.