Paph. William Ambler PHOTOS

[Jmoney]

Paph. Susan Booth is a popular and heavily-awarded primary hybrid arising from the union of rothschildianum and glanduliferum. In the past, two forms of glanduliferum were recognized: a yellower glanduliferum var. glanduliferum, and the smaller but exceptionally well-colored var. wilhelminiae. Accordingly, Paph. Susan Booth came in two major color forms, reflecting the particular variety of glanduliferum used to make the cross. The recognizance of Paph. wilhelminiae as a legitimate species by the RHS, however, led accordingly to a series of new hybrid names. The exceptionally dark Susan Booths made with wilhelminiae were renamed Paph. William Ambler, a fine and distinctive primary grex that combines the size and stature of rothschildianum with the dark mahogany coloration of wilhelminiae. Aside from the rich coloration, the diminutive wilhelminiae also tends to reduce the size of its hybrids, thereby making them ideal choices for a crowded windowsill.

[bench72]

aaargh... where to put another one.... that is one brilliant orchid!!! even that bit of leaf is a loverly green and so erect! Surely an AM for that one... or maybe an FCC!!! Was this one hard to get to that flowering stage? did u get it as flowering, flowering size, NFS, baby? also, how large is the plant and flowers?

[Slipperhead]

VERY NICE!!! This photo may cost me money also....and I thought I had all the multi-florals I needed!

[Piper]

Great shots, Steve! And a gorgeous plant.

Julie

[LJA]

Superb growing and pic, Jason. Great explanation about the two grexes as well.

[Piper]

oops! Sorry Jason - I forgot whose thread I was in!

Julie

[uncasteeb]

Superb growing and pic, Jason. Great explanation about the two grexes as well.

What the man said.
Great growing.

[Jmoney]

thanks, all. in response to your questions, bench, I got it as a first bloomer in bud for the low low price of 35....it was a single growth that was 20" or so across; thin leaves, but not that compact. it took its time maturing its next growth, in bloom now, about 15" across or so. flowers tend to be smaller than the susan booths made with the glanduliferum, which has considerably larger flowers than wilhelminiae.

wilhelminiae tends to "clump" (i.e. send out a lot of small growths), and some of its hybrids may do the same.

overall the grex should be very easy to grow, with the light in the upper end of the paph range.

[bench72]

Thanks for the info Jason.
I'm just surfing the net and no William Ambler's for sale in Oz. There are a couple of Susan Booths (using the praestans which I guess must be a synonym of glanduliferum)... one has praestans 'Black eagle' as a parent, I wonder if that will give it a darker colouration similar to wilhelminae.. aah well, it's only 24 bucks, what the heck
cheers
tim

[Jmoney]

"praestans" is an old term that is now considered a synonym with glanduliferum (I think), although in the past there has been a great deal of confusion with this species complex and who knows what it may have meant.

Even the Susan Booths made with glanduliferum var. glanduliferum should be well-colored. Slightly larger flowers than those made with wilhelminiae and with a pronounced yellower background. William Ambler is a relatively new name and you'll still see roths x glanduliferum var. wilhelminiae advertised as Susan Booth sometimes.

But you can't go wrong with either. That's why I have both.