Phragmipedium peruvianum syn. kovachii

[bench72]

Really awesome pictures of kovachii in situ, Kyle! Thanks for sharing these.

So the area where it is growing seems quite bright... however, the leaves are really dark green... so does this give an idea of how much light to give these plants, ie not much direct sun but lots of 'bright' light.

Also, what was the temps like? Is this cloud forest type of conditions or more like temperate but not lowland tropics...

cheers
tim

[Jmoney]

outstanding pictures Kyle! always mind-blowing to see pictures of that flower size!

my two cents to this entire naming nonsense is the man KNEW it was illegal (any idiot who grows slippers knows you can't just bring in a new species) but wanted his name attached to this spectacular species. he got what he wanted and now has to deal with the consequences, along with everyone else who was involved. I have equal disdain for CITES itself as a moronic entity and ludicrous enforcement as it applies to orchids, but those are the rules, and he's being made an example of. OJ killed two people and got off scot free, punishment doesn't fit the crime, too bad so sad. you wanted that plant named after you, don't complain when you get nailed for it.

[Diane]

So Jason - what would you think would make a great cross with that beauty?

[Piper]

LOL!

Paph. rothschildianum!

McJulie

[Jmoney]

So Jason - what would you think would make a great cross with that beauty?

might be one of those that has no bad hybrids (like paph roths) but hard to tell what happens if you crossed that purple orb with a caudatum type. the parvi x sanderianum crosses in paphland, while certainly impressive, lack any semblance of grace and are sometimes crippled.

that said, one would have to think that besseae x kovachii would be a can't-miss...

[Mahon]

outstanding pictures Kyle! always mind-blowing to see pictures of that flower size!

my two cents to this entire naming nonsense is the man KNEW it was illegal (any idiot who grows slippers knows you can't just bring in a new species) but wanted his name attached to this spectacular species. he got what he wanted and now has to deal with the consequences, along with everyone else who was involved. I have equal disdain for CITES itself as a moronic entity and ludicrous enforcement as it applies to orchids, but those are the rules, and he's being made an example of. OJ killed two people and got off scot free, punishment doesn't fit the crime, too bad so sad. you wanted that plant named after you, don't complain when you get nailed for it.

I have now double-checked. James Kovach *HAD* legal papers to bring in the new large flowering purple Phrag.... the Peru Gov. did in fact dispute the papers for some reason. I am not sure what records are left on these documents. There is more to this story than just importing a plant. I still question why Peru disputed and retracted the papers...

-P.A. Mahon

[smartie2000]

Maybe Peru disputed because they wanted the species named after their country...Phragmipedium peruvianum .
Still whenever a scientists find a new discovery there is a race to publish the discoveries first. Kovach won the race, even if it was only by days. ...My biology professor said that any scientist who doesn't publish is useless.

[Diane]

...My biology professor said that any scientist who doesn't publish is useless.

Depends on the value and accuracy of what they publish.

[smartie2000]

But an inaccurate paper will still get referenced/quoted ;-) by other scientist to prove the paper wrong. Better than nothing. Scientists want to be referenced as much as possible to indicate their contribution. Of course accuracy is very valuable, unforutunately no study can be perfect all the time.
...good night

[Jmoney]

the story I heard was he bought the things off a roadside vendor and brought them back in short order. highly questionable how the Peruvian gov't would issue a permit for the plants to be exported. just doesn't make sense with the hot nature of slippers. If I were bringing that hot a plant back I'd want the @$^@ secretary of agriculture's john hancock on that permit. or just grow the thing quietly and forego naming it, but that's another story altogether.