Colmanara Wildcat "Dark Star"

[Dorsetman]

I looked at Orchidwiz before writing this piece, and see the various clones of Wildcat such as "Gold Ring" and "Green Valley" which I have never seen in Europe - and now see why that pic being discussed yesterday was identified as a a Wildcat - I said I thought Jungle Monarch. But here's how to tell ; the Wildcats are much bigger than Jungle Monarch. I would suggest , over 4 cm ( 1.75 inch) , and up to maybe 7cm ( 2.5 inch) - Wildcat. Under that size and typically 3 - 3.5cm ( 1.25-1.5 inch - Jungle Monarch.

The ones sold in Europe have included Bobcat, Red Bobcat, Carmela ( all of which I have) -all meristem propagations of course; I also bought a flask once from a re-make in the Portugese island of Madeira , and got two different forms from that.

This one ( meristemmed) is Dark Star. The plant shown is a back-bulb prop I took in February this year, when I repotted my bigger plant ; actually two bulbs, one leafless and one with a single leaf. It made a decent bulb and this is not bad for a plant 10 months old I think. The parent btw has two spikes getting up to a metre high with branches, no flowers out yet. Actual flower size here - the largest of them - 6.5cm, which is just over 2 1/2 inches.

[hcubed]

How sure are you of that name? I've seen this plant advertised as Colmanara Massai "Massai Splash". As opposed to Colm. Massai "Red", which has no spotting on the lip.

I have one like in your photo...

[Dorsetman]

How sure are you of that name? I've seen this plant advertised as Colmanara Massai "Massai Splash". As opposed to Colm. Massai "Red", which has no spotting on the lip.

I have one like in your photo...

Answer - if I believe the label it had on when it came, then of course I am 100% sure, but...long experience teaches me that some dealers make up names, so as to be able to offer something different, or to be able to put a name on to something which lost its label, etc..
I have looked at Wildcat on Orchidwiz and a couple of clones have similar colouring notably "Blood Ruby" , the only, but very significant difference being the lip shape. All of the clones illustrated - 36 images - have violin shaped lips ; my plant doesn't. I looked up your Masai Red ( this is the only Oncid hybrid listed having spelling anywhere near your name ) and the general shape, and shape of lip , also colouring of tepals, is spot on.
BTW Masai Red is the whole name - its not Masai "red" . So maybe this plant I have is Masai Red "Masai Splash' .... .or Masai Red "Splash" - but cuiltivar names are not registered anyway.

So there we are ; probability , my plant is another clone of Masai Red .

BTW Dark Star is used as the grex name, and/or cultivar name, quite a lot, by a nursery --; interestingly enough, and as circumstantial evidence in confirmation, they don't have any Wildcat cvs on their web-site.

thanks for pointing this out.

[pavel]

Beautiful flowers in any event!

[espranch]

I most certainly agree with Paul ( Pavel ) no matter the name...the orchid is very beautiful! Betty :-)

[Dorsetman]

How sure are you of that name? I've seen this plant advertised as Colmanara Massai "Massai Splash". As opposed to Colm. Massai "Red", which has no spotting on the lip.

I have one like in your photo...

ps There are no Colmanaras any more - they are Odontocidiums. At least the entry for Masai implies as much, in Orchidwiz.
Actually this doesn't make sense to me - I thought that this last sweeping revision by the DNA experts at Kew had ruled there were no odontoglossums any more - they are all oncidiums....so there cannot be any odontocidiums ? Or is this a case where the Registrar is allowed to be different from the International Rules ?
BTW the third genus involved is Miltonia ( not miltoniopsis) so Colmanaras ought to be Miltonidiums ?

I'm lost - I think I'll just leave the label where it is.

[kiwiorchids]

beautiful. i have the col. wildcat, but not any hybrids.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

A dark and beautiful wildcat! The bloom spike looks so elegant. I bet this one ends up in the basket for display!

Cheers,
BD

[orchidsal]

Another beauty that likes living under your care. AL

[ciliaris]

Another beauty but it sure looks diff from th wildcat I know.
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