Miscellaneous orchids in the Southern Hemisphere 2009

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

I can't work out where else to put these pics.  They're a bunch of different things that were on our show table at last night's (so all photographed with a flash) local Orchid Society meeting.  If anyone has a better place for them please let me know.....

Brassia Eternal Wind 'Summer Dream'
Paphiopedilum Prince Edward of York 'Jules'
Serapias lingua

And then some other Aussie natives, these being epiphytic rather than terrestrial (so they didn't fit into that other topic).

A wonderful specimen pot of Dendrobium kingianum.  I didn't get the varietal name.
Dendrobium Victorian Flare 'Solid Violet Lip'
Sarcochilus Judith 'Yvonne' x S. Zoe 'Crimson' - which is an amazing plant.  The face of the flower is solid crimson, while the back is beautifully speckled.  I've shown two pics to try to give you an idea of the plant.  Very nice.

Please click on the picture for a larger version.

[Brian Ellis]

Great selection Paul, I don't know what it is but I just love Serapias lingua, I can't wait for mine to bulk up!

[Paul T]

Brian,

Thanks.  The Serapias was actually mine.  I have 2 different colours forms, one pinkish and the other this cream and reddish one.  They grow easily outside here in small pots with a fair amount of neglect.  A nice and easy one that doesn't need to be protected from the cold, well not here at least. 

[Paul T]

Whoops, forgot one of the Aussie epiphytes....

Dockrillia 'Chester' x D. Grumpy 'George'

Please click on the picture for a larger version.

[Maggi Young]

Most interesting selection, Paul, thank you.

That huge , well-flowered Dendrobium specimen is just wonderful ...... bet the grower was pleased with that!

[Paul T]

Maggi,

Thanks.  I've got a bunch of pics from the Orchid Society show a couple of weeks ago too, that I'll probably add here.  Trying to remember how many of them aren't either Pleurothallids or Terrestrials though.    Handy to have this here for miscellaneous other stuff though.  Bletilla striata is coming into early bud at the moment here, so that will appear here sooner or later.  Must photograph my other colour form of Serapias lingua at some stage too.

Glad you're enjoying the pics.

[Ragged Robin]

Paul, even the names of these orchids are mysteriously attractive - like a sort of pedigree 

[Paul T]

Robin,

Most of these ones have names similar to the heirarchy of a pedigree dog etc.  You have the Genus, the name of the cross, and the actual clonal name.

For example....

Paphiopedilum Prince Edward of York 'Jules' is actually  Paph. rothschildianum 'Rex' x Paph. sanderianum 'Jacob's Ladder'.

As far as I know, anything that is the species cross rothschildianum x sanderianum is a Prince Edward of York (that is what that cross is called), but this particular seedling (i.e clone) is called 'Jules'.

The first time a species cross is successfully done then you can register a name for that cross.  From then on, any crosses of those same species (regardless of which clones of those species they are) all have that cross name, then if you get a nice seedling that is worth registering you sort out a name for it.

Does that make sense.  If anyone has further information and wishes to correct me (or confirm that I have this sorted out right in my head) then feel free.  I'd rather disseminate accurate information than pass on mis-information.

[galahad]

IMO, the orchid world are the only ones who have got registration right. 

I'll see if I can make this simple...by using hypothetical examples

Someone crosses Paphiopedilum micranthum with P. emersonii.  If the cross has not been registered by someone else thay can register and name the cross.  Let's say they name it P. Camelot.  Everytime someone makes this cross it is P. Camelot.  This is called a grex.

Each of the progeny of this cross is genetically unique, therefore each needs an identifying name, however they are never named unless they are awarded an FCC, AM, HCC or sometines a CCC.

A grower has a plant from the above crossing that they believe is a significant improvement on the parents (as a former orchid judge, I can say that this is important - this encourages continuous improvement in form, floriferousness, colour, substance, etc).  They submit it for judging.  If it gets an award they register and name it.  The grower names it Avalon.  That plant then becomes P. Camelot 'Avalon'.  The 'Avalon denotes the cultivar.  The plant now has genus, grex and cultivar names.  If no award is given generally the palnt is disposed of.

It's not as complex at it initially seems and allows for very easy tracking of the genetic history of some extremely complex hybrids

[Paul T]

So, other than the awarding requirement before naming, I had the right sort of idea on how the naming conventions went.  Good to know.  You sort of pick up things here and there and are never quite sure whether you're right in what you've picked up.    I know that the name "grex" is being dropped in a lot of cases (well outside of orchids anyway) now for some reason.... it was heavily used in Lilium hybrids but I think they're now calling what was a lilium "grex" a "strain".  It gets confusing when things are used slightly differently in different places. 

Thanks so much for the extra info.  It is greatly appreciated. 

[Ragged Robin]

Thanks Paul and Ross, to the 'uninitiated' these sort of explanations are incredibly helpful in clearing up the process of naming plants - one has only go to look at ones own file structure on the computer to know how important it is from the outset to name things correctly and renaming can cause chaos 

[Paul T]

Here's a couple more pics (closeups) of my Serapias lingua, showing the differences between the two forms I grow....

Please click on the pics for a larger version.

[Ragged Robin]

Here's a couple more pics (closeups) of my Serapias lingua, showing the differences between the two forms I grow....

Please click on the pics for a larger version.

What a tongue 
Wow 

[Paul T]

 

[fredg]

It's not just the tongue, it's the fact they eat parrots.
Look inside those flowers closely.

I noticed both of Paul's eat parrots, yet my dark form doesn't.