Aliceara (Bllra.) Marfitch 'Howard's Dream' AM/AOS

[Ron-NY]

When I purchased this it was a Beallara, Which is an intergeneric hybrid between the genera Brassia, Cochlioda, Miltonia and Odontoglossum (Brs. x Cda. x Milt. x Odm.). It is now classified as an Aliceara, abbreviated Alcra. An intergeneric hybrid between the genera Brassia, Miltonia and Oncidium (Brs. x Milt. x Onc.) I really dislike the changes there must have been multiple changes in this orchids ancestry. hahaha

This cross was registered in 1983.
I have had mine for about 12 years now

[Katherine]

When I purchased this it was a Beallara, Which is an intergeneric hybrid between the genera Brassia, Cochlioda, Miltonia and Odontoglossum (Brs. x Cda. x Milt. x Odm.). It is now classified as an Aliceara, abbreviated Alcra. An intergeneric hybrid between the genera Brassia, Miltonia and Oncidium (Brs. x Milt. x Onc.) I really dislike the changes there must have been multiple changes in this orchids ancestry. hahaha

This cross was registered in 1983.
I have had mine for about 12 years now

It is a beauty Ron! I kow what you mean about the genera shuffle. It's impossible to keep up!

[angela]

Congrats Ron. What a beauty! and your photography does it justice.

They(who ever) are going to have to drag me kicking and screaming, before I go trying to wrap my head around these long winded, tounge twisting , new names. If the new names are on the plants that I purchase in the future, well they will have the new names, but I am not going around my GreenH. changing names. That would be a game to send me to the loony binLOL.

[Dorsetman]

When I bought it, it was I think a Vuylkstekeara, according to the label . But it never seemed to like England, and when it flowered, the flowers were of poor shape.

I had an interesting discussion recently with a very experienced long-time breeder in this group ( now a retired Orchid Nursery owner)- Keith Andrew, about climate and weather foir what we used to call odontoglossum hybrids. He reminded me that traditionally, in UK, they were grown and bred and did very well in the North of England - Sheffield, Bradford, York etc, and the south - where we both live, was considered too warm. But his seedlings - he still carries in breeding and raising as a very small scale hobby only - have done exceptionally well this last year ; first bulbs like pigeon's eggs he says - we have had the worst summer ever recorded ( 2012) and are still in the grip of winter, although it ought to be the middle of Spring. So its an ill wind which blows no-one any good.

[Katherine]

Congrats Ron. What a beauty! and your photography does it justice.

They(who ever) are going to have to drag me kicking and screaming, before I go trying to wrap my head around these long winded, tounge twisting , new names. If the new names are on the plants that I purchase in the future, well they will have the new names, but I am not going around my GreenH. changing names. That would be a game to send me to the loony binLOL.

Especially when the wek after you complete the name changs "They" will change them again!

[gardenguysorchids]

Lovely. I love this one. Always a reliable bloomer.

[stateless]

beautiful color pattern, very striking, I agree with Angela about name changes

[orchidbaby]

Very original! Nice
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[catttan]

I concur with Geoff re the lower temperature requirements of these complex oncidinae hybrids. I remember the excitement we had in the late 1960s when these were introduced from Hawaii - The Aliceara, Beallara, Goodaleara, Maclellanara, Wilsonara - were touted as warm tolerant. There was mad rush here for these new hybrids and except for certain Alicearas , none were tolerant of our lowland temperatures. We learnt a hard lesson then; Odontoglossum, Cochlioda, and Miltoniopsis (they were then called Colombian Miltonias as opposed to the warmer Brazillian Miltonia) in the parentage were just not suitable for our lowlands. There was then no more interest for the next 30 years or so. Recently I've seen loads of these at the vendors during our local orchid shows. they were all snapped very quickly indeed as these are ' exotic' to us. I noticed most of the buyers were young , the older ones with grey hair just admired the blooms and walked away. We know these had been grown and bloomed in our highland nurseries located 5000-6000 feet above sea-level.

Nowadays with all the generic name changes it is really difficult to determine if there is any Odontoglossum or Cochlioda in the lineage, so I now use a very simple method to determine if they are warmth tolerant - if the flowers are big and beautiful and look like Vuylstekeara then I won't buy them. Come to think of it I haven't bought an Oncid type the last 3 years.

NB. As I have just started to grow Cymbidiums I've learnt from those who know, the difference between 'warmth tolerant' and 'heat tolerant'.

[zainal abidin]

Wow I love the color and pattern very impressive Ron.