Paph. Iantha Stage PHOTO

[Jmoney]

Labelled as a W.R. Lee (superbiens x roth), but I am 98% sure that it is a pure Iantha Stage (sukhakulii x roth). Which is totally fine by me, since I've been looking for one for quite some time. Anyone have any other ideas for its identity?



"One of the things that paph fanciers are fond of saying is that there are no bad rothschildianum hybrids. Another thing that is frequently said (usually by the same people) is that there are no bad sukhakulii hybrids. So one might expect a great deal from the primary hybrid between these two most excellent parents. Registered in 1973, Paph. Iantha Stage does not disappoint. The flowers superficially look like enormous sukhakulii, retaining the distinctive petal spots and maculations of that parent. However, rothschildianum bestows the flowers with much larger and boldly-striped dorsals, and of course increases the flower count, which is typically three or more on mature plants. It is no surprise, then, that the grex has been heavily awarded by the AOS and deserves a prominent spot in any paph hybrid collection."

[Forrest]

I like it! nice pic Jmoney.

[uncasteeb]

That is superb.

Actually i just received Radcliffes Paph catalogue & Iantha Stage is 1 of the 4 i,m considering.

[Roxanne]

I like this one too. Very pretty. Thanx Rox

[Slipperhead]

I'm with you, Jason! Looks like none other than Iantha Stage!!! Nice growing and the photography is just as good!

Iantha Stage...the best of both worlds!
Good Growing!

[LJA]

Well, it doesn't look like any pic of WR Lee that I've ever seen; petals on those were hairier, longer, and more downswept. Then again, it also looks different from your Iantha Stage pic on cichlidrecipe. The petals on the one here are narrower, and the spots are far less defined, though I suppose that might just be normal variation within the grex. If it's not Iantha Stage, it might be IA that's been bred back to sukhakulii. If DNA testing came down in price, that would sure clear a LOT of things up in the orchid world. Very nice pic anyway, Jason.

[Jmoney]

thanks for the comments and input! Louis, I agree that it is pretty distinct from the other Iantha I have, but I think both are in the realm of variation for the grex--I've seen some with even narrower petals and greater natural spread (favoring the roths parent). Genetic testing would be fascinating, not just for definitive ID of mislabelled plants, but to answer certain taxonomic questions. In fact, there's an ongoing controversy that paph wardii is the natural hybrid between suk and venustum (made one direction), while the same grex made the other direction produces the hybrid Double Deception. I believe there are individuals who are studying this at the very moment...

[Jmoney]