Guess what has been growing? Possibly another Paph IQ ...

[Hoa Tony Nguyen]

Can you guys guess what has been doing its thing at my place since last week? This one should be a breeze! So obvious! Hehehhehe!!!
BTW, I tried but this beauty is not an easy one to photograph!
Same rules certainly! And I expect the paph heads should get it with the first guess although you guys can ask questions first.
Cheers. Hoa.

[uncasteeb]

It looks very much like 1 off my favorites si i,ll .
Primary hybrid ?

[bench72]

Gorgeous... it also looks like the plants I have outside that I am wishing so much to grow and bloom! The colours are wonderfully dark!

[Piper]

She's so dark and beautiful! Absolutely stunning, Hoa!

Julie

[Hoa Tony Nguyen]

Thanks you guys so much!!! You all are DA BEST!!!!

Hi Steve,
Well, if it is one of your most fav, then tell us what that is, hehehhehe! It's great that you finally participate! Yes, it is a primary hybrid!

Hi Tim,
Thanks Timmy! She is wonderfully dark, isn't she?

And last but not least, thanks Julie. She is a dark beauty, isn't she?

Well, I might not be fair, why don't I post another picture of this one? The flash came out so strong with this picture, hence the color is washed out a bit, but still the same dark beauty!
You guys are doing so well with the fantastic guesses but it wouldn't be a challenge if it is that easy, huh?

Cheers. Hoa.

[Diane]

Stoned Addict?

[paphman910]

Is is Paph Paul Park which is a hybrid between sanderianum and adductum.
I see green in the background of the dorsal sepal.

Paphman910

[paphman910]

It is Paul Park which is a hybrid between sanderianum and adductum.

Paphman910

[Sarah]

Prince Edward of York?

[Hoa Tony Nguyen]

Sorry you guys, there has been an emergency that requires my constant attention so I could not get back to everyone timely.

Thanks you all so much for taking part. It has been a resounding participation and there were many new players willing to take a stab at it. (Sarah, you are great, we are very encouraged upon seeing you taking part!) It has been fun and informative checking out people's guesses, and trying to understand the rationals based on those guesses. I have learned so much on my own quizz. I hope my forum friends here also had as much fun as I had and have learned as much as I have through this guessing game and similar paph/phrag challenges that my other orchid-obssessed and knowledgeable friends here put out on this board over the last few months. Bruce (aka BD), one day, you might want to trade-mark this fun little game of ours for your forum.

The plant is indeed Paph. Paul Parks. It is a primary cross between Paph. adductum and Paph. sanderianum. The long-petal beauty of sanderianum and its crosses has been mesmerizing us, orchid addicts, since it was re-discovered and used much in hybridization. This one is certainly not an exception. This is not a small plant but it is not too big either, mature leaf length is around 14-16 in. but wide, flower size is around 3 in. (I will re-measure this), petal length on the most mature flower is ~13 in. and I think they are still growing.
I would like to quote Julie (can I do that, please?) as she listed the rationals for her guess, so we could see how the answer can be arrived:

"Not enough roths for PEOY;
Pouch too light for Mike Koop;
Petals too long, and wrong presentation for Sander's Pride;
Dorsal not dark enough for Oberhausens Rubin;

It's a dead ringer for Paul Parks, though...

Julie"

My rationals however are a bit different. For instance, I would think the petals in MK are more twisty and thicker. The rationals for the elimination for PEOY and Sander's Pride are very obvious as Julie pointed out. Paphman910's reason for adductum as one of the parents is most excellent, that would almost cinch the deal, a green tint on the top of the dorsal. I also would like to add the dark color and the posture (stance) of the petals and the ways they hang are also other reasons that would make us think adductum is the other parent. A few years ago, when I was admiring these first-bloom seedlings along with the breeder and Harold Koopowitz, we were quite taken by this one although I seemed to like another one with lighter flowers a bit more. But Harold picked this one and said it is exceptional. So it went home with me. The breeder said it was made with a very dark adductum. As such, the adductum parent could be one of those adductum var. anitum plants.

Julie (she got it with the least guesses and the first who nailed it), Jason, Tim, and Paphman910 are our winners for this fun game of ours this time. I am not so surprised since they have shown their superb knowledge over so many times. I am glad that you guys are part of this forum. But all of us, the ones participating, Sarah, Steve, Diane, Annie and others and the readers, I believe, are the real winners here. We exchange knowledge, communicate, learn, do research, and have fun in our own orchid addict ways ... What more can we ask?

So, Julie, Jason, Tim, and Paphman910, do you guys like anything from my collection posted so far? You know, Diane and I are going orchid shopping in a few weeks!
Until next time or our next Paph/Phrag Challenge! Have fun!
Best regards. Hoa.