My first Cycnoches

[LJA]

Very nice, Jenn! I really like the color on that.

For anyone who's curious, a lot of orchid flowers start out in the bud stage upside down, or non-resupinate. As the buds mature, the flowers twist around to position the lip at the bottom. These don't, though.

Jenn, do you know the name of yours? I ask because your flowers seem to be hermaphroditic to me, like most orchids, instead of purely female. Cycnoches have spring-loaded pollinia that get forcefully ejected when their triggers are touched. Looks like that happened on the lower flower in your pic. You can see the pollinia sticking to the lip (that little twig-like thing with the two grey knobs at the end of it, sticking out). That flower will fade soon--those triggers are *very* sensitive! (Purely female flowers wouldn't have any pollinia at all...)

Congrats on blooming this--post back with a grex name if you know it--very curious about what it is!

[jenn]

I can not take credit for the blooms, I have only had this a little while. When I purchased this online the name was Cyc. Jean E Monnier (Cyc. barthiorum 'Sunset Valley Orchids' AM/AOS x Cyc. cooperi 'Dark Jem' AM/AOS). When I got this in the mail, the tag only had the part in () withou the Jean E Monnier.
What does this mean?

[LJA]

Jenn, it just means that the plant had its grex name Jean E Monnier registered with the RHS after the growers had printed the tag. The tag with the names in parentheses shows the two parents that made your plant: the pod parent is always listed first, then the pollen parent.

Thanks for posting what it was--you sure picked a nice one!

[jenn]

Thanks Louis. I LOVE your forum. It makes my habit much more fun!

[LJA]

Cool--you're welcome!

[jenn]

Two flowers on the other growth just opened I find the difference in color from the other blooms really neat. They opened without any pollinias, and my other flower that may have lost its pollinia is still going strong. Go figure...

[Diane]

Those are smaller, right? than the female blooms? I'm assuming they are male from the photos of other plants I saw on the web..

[jenn]

These are actually just about the same size. I think these are also females, but I'm not too sure anymore after what Louis said. I notice on the male flowers (judging by that photo of one of the parents of this plant) the lip is small flat and frilly looking, the stamen is quite long and swoopy, and the flower seems to have more drama. Again, I am new to these (got 2 in the summer) so my info. is based on stuff I have read online.
Well, back to work on a very fun drawing

[Lore]

Jenn, they're magnificent! I've never seen a Cycnoches. I adore the coloring.
I want one!

[jenn]

Hey Lore, Thank You. I will pm you the GREAT website where I got this one. They are really neat. I plan on getting many more. This grower has BLACK flowers, too fantasitc