Professional Documents
Culture Documents
4 APRIL 2013
ORCHIDSAPRIL2013VOLUME82 NUMBER4
ORCHIDS
www.aos.org
Cultural Awards
Color Blindness
Cyrtochilums
Fertilizing
www.aos.org
ORCHIDS
CONTENTS
April 2013
Volume 82
Number 4
EDITORIAL
American Orchid Society
at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Road
Coral Gables, Florida 33156
214 SPOTLIGHT
Miltonia moreliana Jackies Pride, FCC/AOS
Jackie Wood
ADVERTISING
John Wrench
American Orchid Society
at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Road
Coral Gables, Florida 33156
Email jwrench@aos.org
216 INCOMPARABLE
The American Orchid Societys First Class Certificates
of 2012
Kathy Barrett
214
228
DEPARTMENTS
In Every Issue
ORCHID MARKETPLACE
252
ORCHIDS CLASSIFIEDS
255
202
CALENDAR
CONTRIBUTIONS
AD INDEX
Parting Shot 256
Getting Outside Yourself
Vincent Vinci
196
248
250
255
SIDEBARS
Human Vision and Color Perception
Luanne Rolly
The AOS Judging Handbook
Jean Allen-Ikeson
238
244
FRONT COVER
Paphiopedilum Johanna Burkhardt Gold Rush, FCC/AOS (rothschildianum adductum).
Printed on 10 percent post-consumer recycled paper.
Grower: Hilo Orchid Farm. Photographer: Glen Barfield. See story page 216.
MISSION
The mission of the American Orchid Society is to promote and support
the passion for orchids through education, conservation and research
VISION STATEMENT
The American Orchid Society provides leadership in orchids
Membership
Type
Digital Only
US Destination Canada and Mexico All Other Countries
(Any Destination) (Digital and Print) (Digital and Print)*** (Digital and Print)***
$65.00
$65.00
$85.00
$105.00
$125.00
$125.00
$165.00
$205.00
$80.00
$80.00
$100.00
$120.00
$155.00
$155.00
$195.00
$235.00
$40.00
$40.00
$60.00
$80.00
$75.00
$75.00
$115.00
$155.00
* Joint membership is for two individuals residing at the same address and includes only one
subscription to the monthly magazine Orchids.
** Student members must be in high school or enrolled at an accredited college or university.
Valid student ID required at time of application.
*** Additional cost covers priority delivery of the print magazine.
Membership Benefits
Orchids The Bulletin of the American Orchid
Society
AOS Orchid Source Directory (growers,
affiliated societies, judging centers)
Members-Only section of www.aos.org
ServiceS
Membership Policy
Membership in the American Orchid Society is open to all individuals without regard to race,
color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All
activities of the American Orchid Society are conducted in accordance with the principles of
nondiscrimination and mutual respect. Further, the American Orchid Society does not condone
or endorse any conduct that is not in accord with these principles.
Accounting (mdavison@aos.org)
Melana Davison (305-740-2013)
Advertising (jwrench@aos.org)
John Wrench (305-740-2016)
Advertising Orchids, Orchid Source
Directory, Website
Administration and Finance (ggg@aos.org)
Gladys G. Greenberg (305-740-2014)
Administration
Committee Volunteers
Finance
Affiliated Societies (mdavison@aos.org)
Melana Davison (305-740-2013)
Shows
Insurance
Awards and Judging (mdavison@aos.org)
Melana Davison (305-740-2013)
Calendar of Events
Development (ggg@aos.org)
Gladys G. Greenberg (305-740-2014)
Annual Giving
Bequests
Major Gifts
Planned Giving
Membership (naya@aos.org)
Naya Marcano (305-740-2010)
AQ Plus
Back Issues Orchids
Calendar and Book Sales
Change of Address
Damaged and Missing Issues
Membership Brochures and Benefits
Membership Questions
Remove Name from Mailing List
Website (technical and password issues)
Publications (jwatson@aos.org)
James B. Watson (305-740-2017)
Orchids Editorial
Publications Books, Calendar, Orchid
Source Directory
WWW.AOS.ORG
Information Technology
(305-740-2010)
For questions not addressed above
please contact theaos@aos.org or call
305-740-2010
WWW.AOS.ORG
Executive Committee
executive_committee@aos.org
Sandra Tillisch Svoboda, Chair
Tim Brooks, Jean Hollebone, Karen McBride,
Fred Missbach, Chris Rehmann, Max C.
Thompson
Affiliated Societies Committee
affiliated_societies@aos.org
Lynn Fuller, Chair
Manuel Aybar, Rosalie Dixler, Pat Dunn, Mario
Ferrusi, Dot Henley, Robert Henley, Jean
Hollebone, Candace Hollinger, Betty Kurka,
Marilyn Lee, Wayne Marine, Norma Raiff,
William Riley, Gladys Roudel, Johnita Turner,
Marie-Christine Viallet
Conservation Committee
conservation_committee@aos.org
David Horak, Chair
Steven Beckendorf, Hilda Belman, Joseph Dixler,
Leon Glicenstein, Theodore Green, Aaron Hicks,
Tom Mirenda, John Salventi, Philip Seaton,
Marilyn Shapiro, John Sullivan, Mark Sullivan
Advisory Members: Anita Aldrich, Paul Bechtel,
Phillip Cribb, Robert Gabel, Eric Hgsater, Johan
Hermans, Alexander Hirtz, Ann Jesup, Saw Lwin,
Ned Nash, K.C. Pradhan, William Rhodehamel,
Rapee Sagarik, Kiat Tan, Ileana Teran
Development Committee
development_committee@aos.org
Carlos Fighetti, June Simpson
Education Committee
education_committee@aos.org
Bev Tall, Chair
Edward Baenziger, Cynthia Coty, William Ellis,
Kathy Figiel, Steve Fischer, John Fordham, Lynn
Fox, Carol Klonowski, Ron Midgett, Jeanne
Rhinehart, Louise Roesser, John Stubbings,
Sandy Stubbings, Gregory Truex
Finance Committee
finance_committee@aos.org
Karen, Mc Bride, Chair
Russell Clark, Norman Fang, Fred Missbach,
Nancy Mountford, Chris Rehmann, Max
Thompson
Governance Committee
governance_committee@aos.org
Mario Ferrusi, Chair
Tom Etheridge, Harry Gallis, Jean Hollebone,
Taylor Slaughter
Information Technology Committee
information_technology_committee
@aos.org
Greg Filter, Chair
Howard Bronstein, Ted Kellogg, Frank Slaughter
Judging Committee
judging_committee@aos.org
Harry Gallis, Chair
Marion Allen, Kathy Barrett, Michael Blietz,
Patsy Boersma, Howard Bronstein, Glenn
Brown, Judy Cook, Sallie Delahoussaye, Jos
Exposito, Carlos Fighetti, Aileen Garrison,
George Hatfield, Lowell Jacks, C. Todd
Kennedy, Terry Kennedy, Julius J. Klehm Jr.,
Joe Lankton, Joe Peterson, Bonnie Riley, Bryon
Rinke, Jennifer Ritchie, Paul Sheetz, Taylor
Slaughter, James Spatzek, Linda Thorne, Susan
Wedegaertner, Robert Winkley, Janice Yates
Library/Archives Committee
library_committee@aos.org
John Ingram, Chair
Doris Asher, Christine Chowning, Diana Dunn,
Robert Fuchs, Gail Furniss, Norito Hasegawa,
Ernest Hetherington, Carlos Ossenbach, Francis
Plimpton, Chris Rehmann, Thomas Sheehan,
Ben Singer, Marilyn Stark
Membership Committee
membership_committee@aos.org
Frank Smith, Chair
Tim Brooks, Jeanne Buchanan, Fred Clarke,
Lois Dauelsberg, Laura DeCarlo, Nile S.
Dusdieker, Lynn Fuller, Maurice Garvey, Jayme
Hennek, Susan Heuer, David Janvrin, Wayne
Louie, Alexa Noel, Ty Triplett, Sarah Waddoups,
Charles S. Wilkins Jr., Colleen Wold, H.W.
Zoufaly
Nominating Committee
nominating_committee@aos.org
George Hatfield, Chair
Diana Dunn, Mario Ferussi, Don Ghiz, Fred
Missbach, Chris Rehmann, Beverly Tall
Publications Committee
publications_committee@aos.org
Greg Allikas, Chair
Kathy Barrett, Glen Decker, Harry Gallis,
Wesley Higgins, Cynthia Hill, Jean AllenIkeson, Phil Jesup, Tom Oder, Kent Peterson,
Ken Slump
Public Relations Committee
public_relations_committee@aos.org
David Toyoshima, Chair
Jeanne Buchanan, Fred Clarke, Norman Fang,
Carri Raven-Riemann
Research Committee
research_committee@aos.org
Carol Zoltowski, Chair
Tom Etheridge, R.J. Griesbach, Patricia
Harding, Marcia Miller-Hjelle, Nancy
Mountford, Thomas Sheehan, John Stommel,
Cynthia Van Der Wiele, Norris Williams,
Kenneth Wilson, Lawrence Zettler
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 197
Feed Me
WWW.AOS.ORG
(P) is good for root growth, disease resistance, seed and fruit growth, and especially
for blooming and flowering. Potassium (K)
helps with increasing root growth, drought
resistance and disease resistance.
OPTIONS there are three main types
of fertilizers used for orchids: balanced,
high nitrogen and bloom booster.
Balancedfertilizershavebeentraditionally recommended for use with orchids
potted in inorganic potting media such as
lava rock and Aliflor, and tree fern (which
has fallen out of favor due to conservation
concerns). Plants mounted on cork bark or
other substrates also benefit from using a
balanced fertilizer. An example of a balanced fertilizer would be represented by the
numbers 20-20-20.
High-nitrogen fertilizers have long
been recommended for use with orchids
potted in fir bark or fir bark mixes. the
reason for extra nitrogen is that the bacteria
that cause the bark to decay use up much
of the available nitrogen, thus depleting
the orchid. this practice has recently come
into question. nonetheless, using a highnitrogen fertilizer, especially in spring at the
beginning of the growing season, can promote strong vegetative growth under ideal
conditions. An example of high-nitrogen
fertilizer would be 30-10-10.
Bloomorblossom-boosterformulas
are high in phosphorus. typically, high-
3
[1] Good cultural practices that include
regular fertilizing will produce wellflowered orchids, such as this Ascocentrum ampullaceum. Grower: Greg Allikas
and Kathy Figiel.
[2] Vandaceous orchids that were under
fertilized (left) and received adequate
fertilizer (right).
[3] Most experienced growers use fertilizer
at the label-recommended strength.
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 199
By Thomas Mirenda
WWW.AOS.ORG
1
[1] Little girls may be made of sugar and
spice, but a Brassavola, a Laelia and
a Cattleya were combined to create
Brassolaeliocattleya Everything Nice
Exquisite, AM/AOS (Rlc. Memoria Helen
Brown B. perrinii), now known under
the genus name Rhynchobrassoleya.
Grower: Santa Barbara Orchid Estate.
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 201
Cyrtochilum
By Thomas Mirenda
WWW.AOS.ORG
MIKE PEARSON
most orchid taxonomists. While dna supports this distinction, the average orchidist
can identify them by vegetative characteristics rather than floristic ones. cyrtochilums
tend to have well-spaced pseudobulbs along
elongate rhizomes and long, twining paniculate, many-flowered inflorescences emerging
from basal distichous sheaths.
ERIC HUNT
NICOLAS GOMEZ
ERIC HUNT
ERIC HUNT
Some of the most beautiful and unusually colored flowers of the Oncidium alliance
are members of this fantastic genus. Cyrtochilum macranthum has been well known in
collections for more than 100 years and there
are many awarded clones in cultivation. But
most other species, while equally beautiful
and fascinating, are much rarer in collections. On the same trip to Ecuador, I recall
being awestruck when entering the nursery
at Ecuagenera, Cuenca, to find a bench full
of Cyrtochilum edwardii in bloom. Although
the flowers are rather small according to the
standards for cyrtochilums, it was the huge,
4-foot (1.2-m) spikes bearing a multitude
of violet-purple flowers with contrasting
yellow crests that blew my mind. While this
color may exist in cattleyas, I had never seen
anything like it in the Oncidiinae. This astonishing display, combined with its fragrance
reminiscent of roses, sealed my fate as a
devotee of cyrtochilums. Unfortunately I had
no luck growing this species in Washington,
DC. Without its cool nighttime temperatures,
plants of this species decline rapidly. While
less compelling, but still totally wonderful,
the intermediate-growing Cyrtochilum serratum proved to be much more amenable to
cultivation in the Mid-Atlantic. Many of the
species do seem to need to be grown quite
cold, but daytime warmth is well tolerated
as long as cool night time temperatures can
be offered to them most of the year.
Some of the plants that growers have
been successful with include Colombian
species, such as Cyrtochilum annulare and
the more widespread Cyrtochilum pardinum.
But it is worth experimenting with other
showier species, such as Cyrtochilum leopoldianum (including plants under the name
Cyrtochilum villenaorum, now a synonym)
and Cyrtochilum orgyale, for their larger
flowers and unusual colors. With the trend
toward more compact, warmer-growing
plants, cyrtochilums have not been used
much in the recent wave of Oncidium intergeneric breeding, but I believe they have
tremendous potential for creating some
spectacular hybrids.
As for the unruly, twining inflorescences, I was taught years ago to train the
spikes onto a large ring or trellis and find
that, when controlled in this way, plants
were more easily dealt with and transportable for exhibition. With their elongate
rhizomes, cyrtochilums can be challenging to contain in pots. Most hobbyists use
baskets, as the plants need a fast-draining
medium that also has good moisture retention. A medium-grade bark mix with some
New Zealand sphagnum added works well.
Perhaps the most successful growing Ive
seen was in Canada where the enthusiast
[3] One of the easier plants of this group to grow successfully in intermediate conditions,
Cyrtochilum serratum tolerates warmer weather better than most of the other species.
Grower: OrchidMania.
[4] Although Cyrtochilum annulare is often confused with Cyrtochilum monachicum, it is
distinct. Cyrtochilum annulare Nancy, AM/AOS, is an example of the rimmed cyrtochilum
that is found only in Colombia. Grower: Nancy Martinez.
[5] In the authors view, Cyrtochilum edwardii is the most spectacular of the cyrtochilums and
possibly the whole Oncidiinae. Its astonishing color seems to come through in its hybrids.
Cyrtochilum edwardii Crown Royal is shown. Grower: Golden Gate Orchids.
[6] Cyrtochilum leopoldianum is a smaller, interesting species from the transitional area
between mid-elevation savanna woods and cloud forest highlands of Peru and Colombia.
It shows promise to be somewhat easier to grow than the cloud-forest types. The clone
Stony Point, HCC/AOS, which was awarded under the name Cyrtochilum villenaorum,
is shown. Grower: Marni Turkel.
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 203
cies and hybrids; it is not always the new and different that catches our eye
or our imagination.
With apologies to Shakespeare and Keats, that which we call an orchid by any
raphers who generously serve the AOS without your commitment to providing
quality images our record would be a poorer place. Which leads me to a shout out
to Irma Saldana-Selles, Arthur Pinkers and Jea Shang Photography: each of them
provided two or more spectacular photographs for us to enjoy.
Robert Bob Winkley has been a member of the AOS for more than 25 years and is
an accredited judge and chair of the Northeast Judging Center. A classical pianist
by training, he is registrar for the college portion of New England Conservatory in
Boston, Massachusetts. 80 Florida Street, Unit 9, Dorchester, Massachusetts 02124
(email rwinkley@aol.com).
2
[2] ROY T. FUKUMURA AWARD
The plant kingdom has a way of producing color combinations that rival the
aesthetics of some of the most avantgarde fashionistas of New York Citys
Fifth Avenue. Among orchids, such
audacious coloration can often be found
in vandaceous hybrids: this is certainly
the case for Aeridovanda Somsri Sunlight
Merienda Lane, AM/AOS (Aer. lawrenciae V. Rasri Gold), exhibited by Ed and
Donna Wise, Conyers, Georgia, at the
Pacific South Centers monthly judging in
San Diego, California, and photographed
by Arnold Gum. Where else might one
encounter a flower that is light butter yellow, white basally, suffused pink apically
and with a trilobed lip that is white with a
deep pink midlobe and callus and a light
yellow spur? Yet somehow these colors
work harmoniously; when coupled with
the flowers wonderful, full form you have
the makings of something remarkable.
3
[3] MASATOSHI MIYAMOTO AWARD
To paraphrase Gollum, a beloved character from J.R.R. Tolkeins The Hobbit
and Lord of the Rings, orchids can be
tricksy. Sometimes they do not reveal
their full selves their true selves
for years. Only with mindful nurturing
can this happen. This is surely the case
for this years Miyamoto Award recipient,
Rhyncholaeliocattleya (syn. Brassocattleya) Memoria Rosa Vazquez Rafael, FCC/AOS (C. Esbetts Breakers
Reach). First exhibited by Rafael Rodriguez of Gurabo, Puerto Rico, in 2002,
it was awarded an 85-point AM/AOS,
bearing two extremely large flowers on
one strong inflorescence. Nearly nine
years later, Rodriguez exhibited it again
to the FloridaCaribbean Judging Center
in Ponce, Puerto Rico, this time with Four
outstanding, full, flat, fragrant flowers and
three buds well-presented on 4 strong,
erect inflorescences. This flowering also
proves another point: bigger is not always
better. Although the natural spreads of the
flower are slightly smaller than the prior
award, the improved shape and excellent
lip form (both beautifully captured in Irma
Saldana-Selles photograph), as well as
higher flower count, convinced the judges
that an award upgrade was merited.
WWW.AOS.ORG
4
[4] BENJAMIN KODAMA AWARD
This is the second time a plant of
Dendrobium cyanocentrum has won the
coveted Benjamin Kodama Award, which
speaks volumes about this wonderful
miniature hailing from section Oxyglossum of Dendrobium. The cultivar Cosmo,
awarded at the Pacific Northwest Judging
Centers monthly judging in Silverton,
Oregon, garnered both an AM/AOS and
a CCE/AOS; the compact plant bore 40
cream-colored flowers overlaid blue-violet
and six buds on 23 inflorescences. The
exhibitor, Terry Thompson, Portland,
Oregon, is a hobbyist noted for cultivating only cold-growing things and
turning out phenomenal plants from a
tiny backyard greenhouse, according to
Tom Etheridge, Corvallis, Oregon. The
photographer, Mike Pearson, handles
the sometimes difficult blue tones in this
flower with great finesse. Bravo to both!
7
208 ORCHIDS APRIL 2013
WWW.AOS.ORG
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 209
10
11
12
210 ORCHIDS APRIL 2013
WWW.AOS.ORG
Formerly Odontoglossum.
13
[13] MARIE AND JAMES RIOPELLE AWARD
This years James and Marie Riopelle Miltonia Award is no stranger to the judging table.
Miltoniopsis Arthur Cobbledick Camano Joy, FCC/AOS (vexillaria Meadowdale), has
received three AOS flower-quality awards over the past 13 years each one going to a
different exhibitor. First receiving an Highly Commended Certificate (HCC) in 2000 and
then an Award of Merit (AM) in 2008, it finally received its FCC/AOS under the careful culture of Larry Cox of Miami, Florida, an area not noted for its Miltoniopsis-friendly
climate. The award record, with its commanding photograph by Greg Allikas taken at the
Florida-Caribbean Centers monthly judging in Miami, Florida, draws us into the fine form
and clear coloration of this flower evident even in the first award. The three awards taken
as a whole document for us that as the plants matured the size of the flowers increased
more than 20 percent in all directions, all while maintaining a good flower count per
inflorescence. One final note FCCs to Miltoniopsis3 are rare. Since 1965 only nine Miltoniopsis have received this level of acclamation and only two plants in this century have
been thus recognized. Prior to that the last two FCCs awarded to this genus took place
on May 23, 1979, to plants belonging to none other than Oregons James Riopelle.
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 211
14
[14] ROBERT B. DUGGER AWARD
Ive often wondered where the brilliant neon hues come from when I
see plants such as this years Robert
Dugger Award winner, Odontoglossum Stroperry Twilight Treat, AM/AOS
(Perryanum Stropheon). Recent
awards to the species building blocks
of these hybrids Odontoglossum
crispum and Odontoglossum nobile
(syn. pescatorei) present us with
images of beautifully formed flowers in
shades of white. But we know, based on
the paintings of older clones originating
in England, that potential for intense
colors exist and that it is just waiting to
express itself through the luck of the
DNA draw aided by the expert culture
of individuals like Mario and Conni Ferrusi, Fenwick, Ontario. The fluorescent
nature of these striking, flat, magenta
flowers with their large, haloed, nearly
symmetrical burgundy blotches in the
center of all segments and brilliantly
contrasted by the lips large yellow crest
is beautifully captured in Jay Norris
stunning photograph. It was exhibited
at the London Orchid Society Show in
London, Ontario.
WWW.AOS.ORG
15
[15] BENJAMIN C. BERLINER AWARD
While hybrids within the genus Lycaste
are frequently associated with large
flowers derived from Lycaste skinneri,
there are many benefits to be found in
the hybrids made with lesser-known or
smaller-flowered species. Case in point:
Lycaste Garfield Jardin Botanique de
Montreal, CCE/AOS (dowiana deppei). When exhibited by the Jardin Botanique de Montreal, Quebec, in 2010
at the Ottawa Orchid Society Show
in Ottawa, Ontario, the plant, bearing
110 flowers and buds on a leafless,
22-growth plant, received a Certificate
of Cultural Merit (CCM) of 83 points.
Exactly one year later to the date the
same plant filled a pot nearly 50 percent
bigger than the previous award and
bore 197 flowers and buds with numerous immature inflorescences emerging
nearly twice as many. To capture
this achievement, Michael MacConaills
photograph gives us an aerial view of
a plant completely enveloped in floral
splendor.
16
SPOTLIGHT
in Homestead, Florida, provided the opportunity I had waited for, and I brought my new
treasure home.
Before the annual business meeting and center judging for the West Palm Beach
Judging Center, I was frantically running around early in the morning trying to get organized for the drive to Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Florida. As a third-year student judge
up for elevation, I was so busy I almost forgot that I was planning to bring in my plant to
see if any of the buds were opening, and if they would be worthy of judging. By Saturday
put on the judging table. I had been keeping an eye on my Milt. moreliana all week to
my patience was rewarded with enough open flowers and I thought they were stunning. I
didnt know if the judges would be as impressed as I was, but the blooms were a personal thrill for me.
For tropical growers, miltonias and miltoniopsis are often pipe dreams of color that
do not come true in our warm climates. Miltonia moreliana, a warm-growing Brazilian
species, is, however, certainly worth considering, and I wouldnt trade mine for the world.
Participating in judging as an apprentice and student judge for more than three years
made me a tougher judge of my own plants, but now I have the confidence to pull out
the stops and bring more plants for judging in the future. Maybe you should too.
Jackie Wood is a probationary judge with the AOS West Palm Beach Judging Center. She
started as a hobbyist in the late 1990s after being invited as a guest on a Boca Raton
Orchid Society bus trip to the Redland International Orchid Festival. She has since developed a passion for orchid species and has a large collection of Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, Bulbophyllum, Stanhopea and Cattleya species. She is involved with the Boca Raton
Orchid Society and the AOS. Boca Raton, Florida (email bocaorchidlady@aol.com).
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 215
Incomparable
1
To receive a First Class Certificate award for flower
quality from the AOS, a flower must score between
90 and 100 points on a scale from 1 to 100 as judged
by a team comprising at least two accredited judges
and one probationary judge. The individual scores
are averaged; scores of 89.5 are rounded up to 90.
There were 37 such awards in 2012.
2
Hans Burkhardt registered the grex Paphiopedilum
Johanna Burkhadt. With few exceptions, the parents
of orchid hybrids are registered at the species or grex
level (i.e., rothschildianum adductum). However,
these intensely colored cultivars of Paph. Johanna
Burkhardt appear to owe their color intensity to a
varietal form of adductum (var. anitum) that is itself
intensely colored. The culitvars of Paph. Johanna
Burkhardt discussed here all have Paph. adductum
var. anitum as the Paph. adductum parent.
WWW.AOS.ORG
ERNEST WALTERS
Howard Liebman, MD, Pacific Palisades, California, took his darkest flower of
Cyrtochilum macranthum and paired it with
the largest one owned by Tom Perlite, San
Francisco. Bob Hamilton, Berkeley, treated
the resulting flasks with oryzalin to try to
convert some seedlings to tetraploidy. One
of the resulting plants is Cyr. macranthum
Rustic Perfection, FCC/AOS (91 points),
which demonstrates a depth of color and
improved form unlike any other awarded
Cyr. macranthum. Liebman writes, I have
been making macranthum and Cyrtochilum
crosses for nearly 30 years. The FCC was
a cross made between an excellent Ecuadorian form of Cyr. macranthum bred
by Tom and a very fine Peruvian form of
macranthum with very dark sepals. The
seed was treated by Robert Hamilton in an
attempt to convert to a 4N variety (I have
not yet counted the plant). Of the seedlings
of cross that I have bloomed and Tom has
bloomed, this was the only exceptional
plant. Since I grow over 500 cyrtochilums
and nearly 40 selected macranthums (many
with AOS awards), this plant is heads above
all the others.
In a personal conversation, Perlite of
Golden Gate Orchids said he agreed about
the flowers quality.
2012s highest score is for Bulbophyllum More Than Aghast A-Doribil Ruby,
FCC/AOS (agastor echinolabium) (94
points), exhibited by Bill Thoms and Doris
Dukes of Valrico, Florida. In terms of AOS
awards this is a successful hybrid, having received many solid Awards of Merit
(AMs) and Cetificates of Cultural Merit
(CCMs) over the past year and a half. Its
the product of Bulb. agastor Magnifico,
CBR/AOS, a present from the late Jo Levy,
Memphis, Tennessee, the queen of bulbophyllum growers, and Bulb. echinolabium
Near Fan, a clone so named because
it grows near the fan in the greenhouse.
Thoms says although he has never shown
the clone Near Fan for an award it has a
pretty good shape and a very red color. The
JAMES OSEN
ARTHUR PINKERS
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 219
WWW.AOS.ORG
the same breeding line as #15, but the difference is the Paph. adductum var. anitum
used is the Bear, GM (Gold Medal)/TPS,
clone that received the highest gold medal
awarded from Taiwan.
Fang writes, Our nursery is on the
cooler side of the Big Island, we have
very mild weather to grow and breed our
Paphiopedilum and Oncidiinae intergenerics here. We try to keep our paphs moist
most of the time and feed them lightly every
other watering. I have bred with these plants
for the past two years and I think they all
need to have a break to rest and be repotted
after this flowering season.
Every year there are a few instances
where a previous award gets upgraded.
GLEN BARFIELD
GLEN BARFIELD
GLEN BARFIELD
ARNOLD GUM
BRIAN MONK
10
ARNOLD GUM
ARNOLD GUM
11
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 221
LYNN OSHAUGHNESSY
ERNEST WALTERS
14
13
15
MAURICE MARIETTI
12
WWW.AOS.ORG
ARTHUR PINKERS
17
MAUREEN PULIGNANO
18
MILTON WITTMAN
16
19
[16] Paphiopedilum Vintage Venus MH-3,
FCC/AOS (90 points) (venustum
Vintage Harvest). Grower: Miao Hua
Orchids.
[17] Paphiopedilum glaucophyllum var.
moquetteanum Bakers Passion,
FCC/AOS (91 points). Grower: Brent
Baker.
[18] Paphiopedilum Walnut Valley Predator
Max & Bryons Best, FCC/AOS (90
points) (Wayne Booth Via Quatal).
Grower: Max Thompson and Bryon
Rinke.
20
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 223
WWW.AOS.ORG
23
NICOLAS GOMEZ
24
JORGE CARLOS
22
25
KEN JACOBSEN
GREG ALLIKAS
21
NICOLAS GOMEZ
26
JORGE CARLOS
27
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 225
MIKE PEARSON
30
29
31
28
Awarded as Doritaenopsis.
WWW.AOS.ORG
MICHAEL BLIETZ
35
GREG ALLIKAS
34
33
BRYAN KUROWSKI
ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ
32
36
ARNOLD GUM
37
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 227
3
[3] Dendrobium lichenastrum var. prenticei
Davids Gherkin, CCM/AOS, is native to
Northeast Australia where it grows at low
elevations. This plant is mounted on a
7- 4-inch (18- 10-cm) piece of cork
and grown in bright light.
[4] Dendrochilum tenellum Susan Beth,
CCE/AOS, is endemic to the Philippines at elevations of 3,0007,000 feet
(9152,130 m). It is more compact than
Ddc. filiforme, and the inflorescence
arises near the apex of a new leaf. This
specimen is grown in medium to high
light in a 10-inch (25-cm) clay pot with
tree fern in the intermediate room of the
greenhouse with many miltoniopsis and
other orchids needing similar conditions.
The room does not get above 80 F (27 C)
in the summer, and during the winter the
temperatures range from lows of 60 F
(16 C) to days around 68 F (20 C).
WWW.AOS.ORG
JOAN ROSENFELD
6
[5] Phragmipedium Schroderae Davids
Dream, CCM/AOS (caudatum Sedenii), is a 19th century cross. This specimen, which is grown in a mixture of 4
parts medium bark, 4 parts fine bark,
part perlite and part charcoal, is
watered twice a week and receives the
same light as the cattleyas.
[6] The author with the specimen of Phrag.
Schroderae Davids Dream, CCM/AOS.
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 231
7
[78] Promenaea Chameleon (Limelight
guttata) is a miniature originated by the
late Ben Berliner, MD, and registered
in 1998. Shown here are the specimen
[7] and a flower [8] of the clone Apple
Green, CCM-AM/AOS. This plant grows
in a mix of one part tree fern and three
parts sphagnum moss in a clay pot and
is watered twice a week. Its in the same
room as the dendrochilums, but in low to
medium light.
WWW.AOS.ORG
DAVID ROSENFELD
10
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 233
WWW.AOS.ORG
[1] Howard Wood at the Ardnamurchan Club, his familys 100-year-old residence in Nova
Scotia where he and his wife, Anne, met as teenagers. Howard wrote a couple of articles
about orchids found there around our tennis court as well as nearby. Howard and I traveled extensively and to all the continents, but his favorite place was there. This undated
photograph shows his favorite corner of the porch where he usually could be found
studying ferns, terrestrial orchids, carnivorous plants, mosses and anything he had picked
up on his walks and put into his plastic bag from the kitchen. Then he or the rest of us
would put it into a dish garden for the dining room table for all to enjoy, says Anne.
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 235
WWW.AOS.ORG
3A
3B
4A
4B
5A
5B
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 237
WWW.AOS.ORG
Differences in color perception arise when cells are absent, additional cells are present, or a cells response curves are shifted. The most common forms of color perception
difference are where the red or green cells response curves are shifted to shorter or longer
wavelengths (anomalous trichromacy), or are absent (dichromacy). about 23 percent of
males are red-green color blind (dichromats) and up to one in 12 (8 percent) males are affected to some degree. Women are affected to a lesser extent (approximately 0.4 percent).
There are also instances of blue cone cells being absent or shifted, the complete absence
of cone cells (Sacks 1997) and the presence of additional magenta pigment in possibly 40
percent of women (Jameson et al. 2001).
The orchid images shown here were digitally processed using the vischeck Photoshop
plug-in to appear as they would to someone who completely lacks green cone response
(deuteropia), red cone response (protanopia) and blue cone response (tritanopia). Because
of the way the red and green pigment responses overlap, the result when one is completely absent is similar, and both deuteropes and protanopes are lumped into red-green color
blindness. Tritanopia is extremely rare (<0.008 percent) and is included here for contrast.
The fifth image is the grayscale component of the image. It is included to show just how
much information is contained in the grayscale.
GREG ALLIKAS
GREG ALLIKAS
GREG ALLIKAS
GREG ALLIKAS
GREG ALLIKAS
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 239
GREG ALLIKAS
JOYCE MEDCALF
Size Counts
[1] Accredited AOS Judge Nina Rach (center) measures a masdevallia flower while
judge Ken Roberts (left) looks on and
judge Richard Fulford consults records
at the 2002 Sociedad de Orquideologa
del Estado Miranda show in Caracas,
Venezuela.
[2] Measurement is an essential part of the
taxonomic verification process. Shown
here is Pleurothallis phalangulifera photographed in situ in Ecuador.
WWW.AOS.ORG
BY JEAN ALLEN-IKESON
KEN JACOBSON
3
[3] Comparison of the natural spread
horizontal with petal length may verify
a flatter or more cupped flower when a
photograph may be misleading. Here,
the lovely center flower looks flat but it is
not. The sum of the length of the petals is
25 percent more than the natural spread,
which cannot occur if the flower is flat.
The flowers on either side confirm the
cupping. Example: Cattleya Evas Snow
Way Angela Maria, AM/AOS (Over Flow
Ecstacy). Grower: Beatriz Escobar.
[4] Common sense should prevail when
measuring orchids. The natural spread
of the flower can be across the lip width
rather than across the petals or sepals.
Example: Pecteilis radiata Pope John
Paul II, AM/AOS. Grower: Anna S. Chai.
4
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 241
Natural
spread
vertical
Natural
Spread
horizontal
JOHN LEWIS
Do not
measure
here
C
B
[5] Measure the face of the flower, including the caudae or spurs for natural spread.
Example: Masdevallia White Swallow Memoria Otto Mittelstaedt, HCC/AOS (constructa
datura). Grower: Wojciech Klikunas.
[6] For petal and sepal width, measure perpendicular to the central vein, which is the same
as the petal or sepal length in this drawing, following the contour. Example: Phragmipedium.
[7] The AOS Handbook on Judging and Exhibition defines lip length as the point of attachment to the base of the column foot to the tip (or to a point representing the outermost
margin of the lip) (Section 7.5.2). A. pouch width, B. pouch length and C. pouch depth,
which is used by taxonomists and should be placed in the text of the description. Measuring pouches on the contour is not done by taxonomists. They measure straight across or
along. Example: Paphiopedilum adductum Jo, AM/AOS. Grower: Stephen Helbling.
WWW.AOS.ORG
Ecstacy). If you read the award description, you will find that the petals are 7.8 cm
long but the flower has a natural spread of
12.5 cm. The natural spread is lessened by
the cupping of this otherwise lovely flower,
which can be confirmed by looking at the
flowers on either side in the photograph.
This is part of the reason we record petal
length on the contour but natural spread
as viewed looking at the face of a flower
without flattening it. The two methods of
measuring provide additional information,
one for specifics and the other for general
wow factor.
NATURAL SPREAD How we measure orchid flowers is the tricky part. For
natural spread, which is the overall width
JAMES MCCULLOCH
JEAN ALLEN-IKESON
Formerly Habenaria
Formerly Masdevallia urosalpinx.
1
2
8
[8] Measure the inflorescence from the
base of the attachment of the peduncle
following the midline of the stem to the
outermost tip of the farthest flower. For
arched or pendent inflorescences, follow
the contour of the main stem to the tip
of the farthest flower. Length of the inflorescence is important in breeding and
for judging balance. Add inflorescence
length in the description. Example:
Paphiopedilum Lady Rothschild Shih
Yueh, AM/AOS (rothschildianum Lady
Isabel). Grower: Shih Yueh Orchids.
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 243
[9] Parts of an inflorescence. Peduncle: Usually the main stem for a single flower, or from
which single or multiple flowers branch. Pedicel: The secondary stem that connects the
flower to the peduncle. Example: Flowers of Phalaenopsis Tai Lin Red Angel Lorraine
Desjardins, AM/AOS (Tai Lin Angel New Eagle). Grower: Le Paradis des Orchides.
[10] For Stanhopea and related genera: A. Natural spread horizontal is often measured
across the lateral sepals. B. Natural spread vertical is measured from tip of epichile
(usually the lowest vertical point) to farthest vertical point, when viewing the flower face.
The natural spread vertical is perpendicular to the natural spread horizontal.
Example: Stanhopea embreei Marcia Richter, AM/AOS. Grower: Robert J. Richter.
WWW.AOS.ORG
10
TECK HIA
Pedicel
MICHAEL MACCONAILL
Peduncle
Bilobed petal
Bipartite lip
Natural spread
horizontal
Natural spread
vertical
12
Lip:
Hypochile
Lip:
Mesochile
JAY NORRIS
Lip:
Epichile
11
Dorsal sepal
Petal
Column
Lip
Fused lateral
sepals
14
Column
13
[11] Natural spread of this orchid was measured incorrectly along the length of
the sepals rather than from the face of
the flower. (It was recorded as having
a natural spread horizontal of 2.2 cm
and a natural spread vertical of 4.3 cm
with the sepal length also as 4.3 cm.)
The sepal length, rather than the face
of the flower, was apparently measured.
Example: Zootrophion dayanum Peek
a Boo, CCM/AOS. Grower: Mario and
Conni Ferrusi.
[12] Confused on these flowers parts?
Distinguishing them can be a problem.
A hint from AOS Accredited Judge
Bergen Todd, Salem, Oregon: Look at
the back of the flower where the segments attach; sepals come first, then
petals, then lip (pouch), then column.
Example: Lepanthes guatemalensis
Nino Perdido, CHM/AOS.
Grower: Sunset Orchids.
[13] The lip in Stanhopea and related genera
includes the hypochile, mesochile and
epichile. Example: detail from Stan.
embreei Marcia Richter, AM/AOS.
Grower: Robert J. Richter. Photograph
by Teck Hia.
[14] Fused lateral sepals, shown here, are
also common in Bulbophyllum. Measure
half of the total width of fused lateral sepals for the sepal width. Example: Restrepia cuprea Eichenfels, CHM/AOS.
Grower: Ann Lauer Jesup.
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 245
Natural
spread
vertical
15
JAY NORRIS
Sepal width
Dorsal sepal
measurement
16
JAY NORRIS
Lateral sepal
measurement
[15] In masdevallias, measure the sepal width at the widest point. The natural spread vertical
is measured across the face of the flower perpendicular to the natural spread horizontal.
Example: Masdevallia Northern Envy Orange Nugget, AM/AOS (Southern Sun welischii). Grower: Mario and Conni Ferrusi.
[16] For the flowers of masdevallias, especially tubular ones, measure the sepal length from
the back side along the contour to include the caudae. Example: Masdevallia Violet
Gems Starry, AM/AOS (uniflora Wally Bernstein). Grower: Mario and Conni Ferrusi.
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 247
CALENDAR
APRIL
WWW.AOS.ORG
MAY
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 249
CONTRIBUTIONS
Jeri Bond
Heinrich Bonsack
Sarah Coburn
Denver Orchid Society
Sharon Duncan
Bernard Esselink
Harry Gallis, MD
Garden Club of Bensenville
Bruce A. Hugo
Cynthia R. Meyers
Lois Posey
Don Robert
Lauren Stephens
Tam Cong Tran
Janice Lauren Tierney
Mary Zollman
Conservation Temporarily Restricted
Oregon Orchid Society, Inc.
In Lieu of a Speakers Fee Cheryl Erins
Garden Club of Oak Park & River Forest
In Memory of Amado Vasquez
Dr. Robert Streeter
Sandra Tillisch Svoboda
In Memory of Ms. Norma Lane treasured,
long-time member of the Columbus, Georgia
and East Alabama Orchid Societies
Columbus Orchid Society
In-Kind Contributions
Frank Smith
WWW.AOS.ORG
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 251
ORCHID MARKETPLACE
WWW.AOS.ORG
ORCHID MARKETPLACE
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 253
ORCHID
ORCHID MARKETPLACE
MARKETPLACE
WWW.AOS.ORG
ORCHIDS CLASSIFIEDS
SALES
SALES
SALES
AD INDEX
African Violet Magazine ............................251
American Begonia Society.........................201
American Horticultural Society .................250
American Orchid Society
Affiliates Societies .................................252
AQ Plus..................................................251
Classified Ads ........................................255
Digital Orchids.......................................197
Membership ...........................................247
Pests and Diseases .................................253
Quality Books ........................................254
Supplement issues..................................249
American Spirit Magazine .........................195
Australian Orchid Review ..........................199
AWZ Orchids .............................................252
Besgrow .....................................................197
Better-Gro ..................................................254
Cattleya-Log .............................................254
Cymbidium Society of America.................250
Dyna-Gro Nutrition Solutions ...................199
Ecuagenera Orchids ...................... Back Cover
Evolution Art Group ..................................201
Fairchild Tropical Botanic
Garden............................ Inside Back Cover
First Rays, LLC..........................................254
Florlia ......................................................253
Green Barn Orchid Supplies .....................252
REVIEW ONLINE
The American Orchid Society, in congruence with its stated conservation aims and with the full approval of the AOS Trustees, prohibits advertisements for wild-collected orchids and orchid-collecting tours in
the pages of Orchids. By submitting advertisements for orchid species, vendors are thereby asserting that plants advertised are either artificially propagated (from seed or meristem) or are nursery-grown divisions
of legally acquired stock. While Orchids endeavors to assure the reliability of its advertising, neither Orchids nor the American Orchid Society, Inc., can assume responsibility for any transactions between our
advertisers and our readers.
WWW.AOS.ORG
APRIL 2013
ORCHIDS 255
PARTING SHOT
Repurposed orchid photographs from Orchids magazine illustrate the tie-in between art and
music on the album cover for Outside Myself (available at www.mariabrosgol.bandcamp.com).
On a whim in the spring of 2010, I bought 20 back issues of Orchids at a library book sale. Id never heard of the magazine before,
and (dont hate me) I had zero interest in learning about orchids, but
the photographs were too stunning to ignore. Plus I had a gut feeling theyd come in handy someday.
Three years of incubation later, my
friend and then-flatmate Maria Brosgol, the
preternaturally talented singer-songwriterguitarist-ukuleleist-(you-name-it-she-doesit-ist), asked me to design the cover of her
first digital album and CD, Outside Myself.
So, incubation over, I dug the magazines
out of my closet and got to work.
Ehem. The collage is inspired by the fanVincent Vinci
tastical 16th century portraiture of Giuseppe
Arcimboldo and loosely based on a photograph of Belle Skinner
(18661928), an American businesswoman, humanitarian and music lover. The Skinner Hall of Music at Vassar College, Poughkeep-
WWW.AOS.ORG
sie, new York, was donated in her memory by her brother William
in 1932, and its where Brosgol recorded all but one of the songs
on her album. The bonus track, The narrow Line, was recorded
in balmy old Russia; see if you can hear the desperation I mean
difference (www.mariabrosgol.bandcamp.com).
During her last year at Vassar, Brosgol was at Skinner eight
hours a day, every day, working with other musicians (students and
professors) who donated their time to help her realize her vision.
Thats why Brosgol initially thought shed name the album Belle
Skinner, and why I chose Belle Skinner as the subject for the cover.
It wasnt until shortly before the albums release that she decided to
name the album after the track Outside Myself (which you can hear,
along with the rest of the album, I dont know, online somewhere,
probably; who can say?).
And despite myself I ended up learning something about orchids: Dracula vampira. Vincent Vinci (pray for him, he asks) is
an unemployable college dropout and aspiring writer. Nutley, New
Jersey (email vincent.a.vinci@gmail.com).
ORCHIDSAPRIL2013VOLUME82 NUMBER4
ORCHIDS
www.aos.org
Cultural Awards
Color Blindness
Cyrtochilums
Fertilizing
www.aos.org