Cycnodes Taiwan Gold - a new clone

[Dorsetman]

Of course it may not be new to you ! The full name is Cycnodes Taiwan Gold "Taiwan Orange"

If you think you want to grow Catasetums in UK, Taiwan Gold is the easiest to find, and in my experience over the last 4 or 5 years struggling with them ( I don't struggle now- I simply grow them a lot warmer than I was trying to do in the past )the easiest to grow, by far. Its the only one I found which will readily throw extra growths from back bulbs , almost the only one where I get back-bulbs at all, with most, the oldest bulb shrivels quite quickly,and also the only one which frequently throws several spikes at the same time. Maybe others in my collection will do the same now that they are all growing well, but that remains to be seen.
I think that Taiwan Gold has been meristemmed , probably lots of times , and I assume that this is a mutant - which does happen if you keep on meristemming through several generations. A lucky chnace. This clone , purchased from a well-known Catasetum specialist nursery, not a thousand miles from Taipei - of course I must not mention names here ! seems even stronger than Taiwan Gold in the usual form .

[78Terp]

Love the vibrant color and form!

[Sheryl]

OMG! That flower has made my heart beat race! It is absolutely gorgeous! The color is perfect!

[JDT]

At least I can see one up close this blooming season, it is beautiful! I have the same as you which bloomed for me last year, I was not lucky with any blooms this year, I will be doing things a little bit different next year. I also got the Cycnoches Taiwan Gold 'Orchis' FCC/WOC GCP/20THWOC from the nursery that grew and won the award at the Singapore Orchid Festival several years ago, I understand that Yew-sung was also at that show but did not get one. Unfortunately they did not bloom for me this year, a dumb media choice on this species last spring.. In January of this year they were a vendor at the Tamiami show as they been coming for several years, I also got the Cycnoches warseewiczii that I posted last weekend. I am hoping I will have better luck next year!

[catttan]

A real beauty Geoff!!! What a vibrant colour on this clone WOW !

---------- Post Merged at 08:44 PM ----------

At least I can see one up close this blooming season, it is beautiful! I have the same as you which bloomed for me last year, I was not lucky with any blooms this year, I will be doing things a little bit different next year. I also got the Cycnoches Taiwan Gold 'Orchis' FCC/WOC GCP/20THWOC from the nursery that grew and won the award at the Singapore Orchid Festival several years ago, I understand that Yew-sung was also at that show but did not get one. Unfortunately they did not bloom for me this year, a dumb media choice on this species last spring.. In January of this year they were a vendor at the Tamiami show as they been coming for several years, I also got the Cycnoches warseewiczii that I posted last weekend. I am hoping I will have better luck next year!

I hope your Taiwan Gold will bloom for you in 2016 - would really love to see pictures of your blooms.

[sciencegal]

I love these blossoms. I am curious why you say that this is a mutant?

The cycnoches are becoming more and more intriguing to me. I may have to try some as well as a few catasetums next year.

[Dorsetman]

I am curious why you say that this is a mutant?
.

Orchids that are repeatedly meristemed, i.e., not going back to the original awarded plant for fresh tissue to multiply, but taking one of the meristem plants, then taking tissue from that, and so on, perhaps through many generations, often produce one or two sports, mutants, call them what you like, which have a colour change, or a pattern change - which some smart nurseryman recognises as worthwhile in its own right. Hence, for example, Burrageara (Oncidium) Nelly Isler "Apricot" instead of theusual red one, Vuylstekeara (Oncidium) Cambria "Mayfield" -patterned whereas the original was plain, also two other colour versions of this one, and I could quote further examples. But then Several different nurseries in Europe were producing over one million Cambria plants every year . And my friend andretired orchid breederKeith Andrew has the original Cambria plant, which produces flowers 50% larger than any of the meristems. The process does not in fact lead to plants which are absolutely identical in every respect, every time.
Of course it is theoretically possible that my Taiwan Orange came from the same seed pod, or from a repeat of the original cross which led to Orchis FCC, but that is unlikely for a couple of reasons which I won't go into here....

[sciencegal]

Thank you Goeff. I learn so much here.

[Dorsetman]

Well, my theory was a lovely one , about the origin of this plant, but it's all a lot of nonsense.
I took the plant along to the Christmas lunch of lone of my local orchid societies, today ( it was much admired), and got into a friendly argument about whether it is a Catasetum, a Cycnoches, or a Cycnodes.
So when I got home I looked it up in Orchidwiz , just to check my facts. Well I was right in saying Cycnodes, but totally wrong everywhere else. It is Cycnodes Orange - nothing to do with Cycnodes taiwan Gold, or Cycd. Orchis. The parentage is different - but is Unknopwn x Cycd. Jumbo Jewel.
Just goes to show - I can be too clever by half, at times....

[zainal abidin]

Wow gorgeous George.