Houston Judging Center
Clowesetum Sofia Margolis, HCC 76
—Stephen Moffitt, Baytown, Texas
Photo: Julius Klehm
Paphiopedilum Delightfully Venus ‘Painter,’ HCC 76
—Amy Colville, Houston, Texas
Photo: Julius Klehm
Catasetum discolor, CHM 82
—Stephen Moffitt, Baytown, Texas
Photo: Julius Klehm
By Fr. Ted Baenziger
The Houston Judging Center met at the old Black Lab on February 19, and we awarded three plants of the six that were presented.
The first was Paphiopedilum Delightfully Venus ‘Painter’ ([Magical Venus x Red Extremities] x [Venus Knight x Red Flares]), HCC 76. Owned by Amy Colville, this plant received her first award ever!
One flower on one erect 24.5-cm inflorescence; sepals ovate, accuminate, concave, white, veined green; petals oblanceolate, slightly down-swept, yellow-green, veined darker green, light pink distally, spotted dark maroon, margins hirsute; pouch mahogany, veined darker, inner margin light green, finely spotted mahogany; staminode horseshoe-shaped, light green, veined dark green centrally; substance firm; texture waxy. Plant 18.5cm wide by 10cm tall.
The second award went to Clowesetum Sofia Margolis (Clowesia Rebecca Northen x Catasetum cirrhaeoides) ‘Rare Earth Orchids,’ HCC 76, owner Stephen Moffitt.
Fifteen open flowers well arranged on one 20.5-cm pendent inflorescence. Flowers cream, finely spotted burgundy; lip tubular, fimbriated, spotted burgundy, interior shaded amber; column hooded, light burgundy; substance hard, texture waxy; spicy fragrance. Plant 15cm tall.
A third flowering plant provided much discussion and a lot of learning for everybody—Catesetum discolor, a species, ‘Rare Earth Orchids,’ CHM 82, owned by Stephen Moffitt.
Twenty-two non-resupinate flowers on hooked ovaries, symmetrically arranged at the top of a 72-cm upright inflorescence with another immature inflorescence developing on the same pseudobulb among three others in a 14.5-cm clay pot; flowers green, petals parallel, held vertically below column; sepals on mature flowers withered, tucked against ovary; lip hooded, fimbriate with hairs up to 1cm long, apical surface suffused yellow, veined green, interior bright yellow; column cream, anther cap cream to brown based on age; substance hard, texture waxy. Recognized for a charming display of albescent flowers for an uncommon species. Pleasant mint fragrance.
The species is quite rare, and the team had to work very hard to award this green-white Catasetum a Certificate of Horticultural Merit, meaning it would be good to grow and hybridize in the future. The score sheets are different for this award and a challenge to use correctly.
All photographs were taken by our Emeritus judge, Julius Klehm.
There were seven visitors (all are welcome!), and a couple of them want to be part of our team. How about you?
Fr. Ted Baenziger
The Houston Orchid Society, Inc. (HOS) is an affiliate society of the American Orchid Society, a member of the Southwest Regional Orchid Growers Association, and is affiliated with the Orchid Digest.
The Houston Orchid Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 66325
Houston, Texas 77266