Aliceara Peggy Ruth Carpenter " T,D & H "

**Dorsetman** · September 27th, 2016, 03:58 AM

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I bought this one at Bournemouth Orchid Show on Saturday. I already have several examples of Peggy Ruth Carpenter, but I have never seen one with dark dramatic markings like this ; it was one of a batch the dealer had - all the others were the usual ones seen in UK and Europe with pink markings, not the nearly black seen here ; Orchidwiz shows lots of examples - usually with far more pink colour as the background, instead of the very pale colour which we see in UK, and seen here, but again, never with dark markings.
I talked to the vendor ( after making my purchase - a well-known and knowledgable chap - I have been buying from his firm since before he joined them as a lad 50 years ago ; he told me they had bought in a batch of plants as plugs - small plants they grew on to flower, and he had merely picked out half a dozen of the flowering ones to bring to the show - He had not realised the significance of the dark markings - but he is not a trained judge although, as I say, he is very experienced , but to him, they are just plants to sell , and as long as they are clean and healthy, thats as far as it goes.
But clearly the difference is not culture, its a natural variant or sport.
I have given it the variatel name "T,D & H" meaning Tall, dark and handsome - there are four or five spikes from maybe three leads, with very tall slim bulbs - maybe 6 or even 7 inches or so high. I'll grow it on, and maybe think of trying for an AM/RHS next year if it does well.