My first Paph

[ATester]

So, the tax check came in and I got a littl bit of play money from the wife! Anyway, I went to my local GH (the one I am hoping to score the job), and I bought my first paph. All I know it is a hybrid, the cross is Paph 'Red Palace (?)' x Paph 'Magic Cherry'. I was hoping someone might know the parent species of both hybrids...but if not or way too much work...that's fine. I have one bloom all the way open and another bud just below it that hasn't opened yet, just kind of gracefully drooping quietly behind the active bloom.

I am trying to look at the structure of this thing, but it's not making any sense!!! I understand on the rest of them (my other orchids) where the reproductive parts on this thing? Not that I am looking to jam my finger in this thing and try to pollinate it or anything.

Ahhh well, might as well just sit back and enjoy the show and not ask too many questions.

[Piper]

Pedigree and then news...

Red Palace is not a listed cross. Magic Cherry is, being the cross of Black Cherry x Voodoo Magic. Magic Cherry is a complex hybrid, but is made up of 53% callosum, 17% lawrenceanum, 12% curtisii, and trace amounts of barbatum, purpuratum, sukhakulii and mastersianum.

So the trip up to Dartmouth's greenhouse is a go! Let me finish a project I'm doing this and next week, and then we can plan it. My artist friend Marcia loves the idea. The gal who runs the greenhouse is Lisa Parker. Apparently she had some plants entered at the NH Orchid Show this weekend. She, through my friend Mary in the Bio Dept, directed me to her treasured entry: a Clowesia Jumbo Grace.

After scouting the vendors for desired purchases, I purused the entries and only towards the end remembered Lisa's plant. I turned around and there it was! The plant was ugly. Three fat, bald pseubobulbs. But the daisy-chained, flesh-colored flowers were delicate, lacy and delightful!

A blue ribbon hung from it, so I called Mary and told her. Then the announcer ran through the awards, and as I was on the phone announced that Best-in-Show went to Lisa's Clowesia!

Mary called Lisa first thing this morning, and Lisa was screaming and jumping up and down, she was so happy she won! It seems the plant is a rare one and hard to grow, and she was thrilled with the results.

I just know that our little field trip contingient now holds some sacred status for being the ones to have first reported her whomping success. We should have a truly great visit!

I didn't have my camera with me, but I'll post a photo as soon as I can get one from Lisa.

Julie

[ATester]

That's awesome about Lisa's Clowesia! I wish I could have gone to the show. I guess there is always next year. I look forward to the pic when you get a copy of it. Thanks for the pedigre on Magic Cherry. I guess there is a CD ROM I can get with the pedigre information on these complex hybrids. For almost every orchid I have, I have kept a catologue of the pedigre, Tribe, sub-tribe and then alliance if there is one. It helps me keep track of what I have and potential compatibility if I ever decide to experiement (I guess what would help further down the road is try to identify ploidy if that is ever possible to keep track of)

[Jmoney]

Julie's right about there not being a Paph Red Palace at this time...if you take a photo of the tag maybe we can decipher it?

[Piper]

hehehe...I love my new orchid database! It makes me look so smart!
...and I need all the help I can get!

Julie

[ATester]

Julie's right about there not being a Paph Red Palace at this time...if you take a photo of the tag maybe we can decipher it?

Good, it gives me a good excuse to use the Bronica ETR.

[ATester]

well, the first bloom is quickly fading right now, but the good news is that the next bloom is opening as I type this. Maybe I can take this opportunity to dissect the wilting flower in search for its structure.

[bench72]

so, you have a sequential flowering Paph??? That's a good indication of parentage too... if it is sequential then there is a cochlopetalum parent.