Clowesia Rebecca Northern 'Grapefruit Pink' x Mormodes elegans v alba 'SVO' HCC/AOS

[78Terp]

An un-named hybrid from Fred Clarke ('SVO' in the name is always the clue it is his). It was a freebie on an order 15 months ago. It grew spikes right after I received it last year. This year I grew a big, fat pb outdoors and it grew 2 spikes. The flowers don't open very far. The first spike isn't fully open yet. Once the flowering is complete, it goes down to the dormant orchid 'pile'.

Clowesia Rebecca Northern 'Grapefruit Pink' x Mormodes elegans v alba 'SVO' HCC/AOS

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Beautiful!! I love it, Harvey.

cheers,
BD

[catasetum-ian]

nice mormodia you have there, love the color. healthy bulbs too.

[JDT]

Very nice Harvey look forward to the blooms fully open

[78Terp]

They are as open as they get. Just more of them on the spike can get to this point.

---------- Post Merged at 06:56 PM ----------

Last year, I received the orchid already leafless. Then about a week later, it sprouted spikes. But I didn't know that was what they were and I was freaking out. Worried it was new growth at the time I was expecting dormancy. I sent email to Fred and he explained how this one grows/flowers. Blooming is the last step of the seasonal life-cycle.

[Sheryl]

Harvey, is that common with that type of orchid - the flowers not opening completely?

[sciencegal]

Does it ever have leaves?

[78Terp]

Yes, It grows very much like a Catasetum and goes dormant like a Catasetum. It grows new growths at the end of dormancy in early spring, has a number of leaves that were I think about 6 inches long and then at the end of the summer they turn brown, drop off and then this type of Catasetum alliance flowers. Dormancy is one of the attractive aspects of this type of orchid. 4- 5 months of the year, little to no care required.

It depends on your definition of open completely. For this orchid, as best as I know this is its 2nd blooming in my hands, this is opened completely. It isn't that they aren't doing something they should be. This is it. My guess why it was free. Not necessarily the most compelling flower. Don't ever tell this orchid I said this but I probably wouldn't have chosen to own it if it wasn't a gift.

[sciencegal]

Doesn't that figure!? The one that you would not have chosen grows and blooms really well.

[Sheryl]

Still another unique orchid for your collection. Thanks for sharing!