Walronara Tango Fire ‘Meteor’ (Perreiraara Bangkok Sunset x Renanthera storiei), HCC/AOS 79, Award #20234122
—Sheila Skov, Santa Fe, Texas
Photos: Malcolm McCorquodale
Houston Judging Center
By Fr. Ted Baenziger
Our June monthly judging saw three awards and lots of entries.
In New Orleans on June 3, we had an exciting time, giving ribbons to 285 plants with 18 judges and as many clerks scurrying about awarding 30 different classes of orchids, of which 29 were marked for further examination for AOS awards. In total, we gave a show trophy award, an AM, and a CBR (Certificate of Botanical Recognition). A CBR must be vetted by the Species Identification Task Force (SITF), of which I am a member. Here are those awards:
The AOS Show trophy (83 points) was awarded to the Memphis Orchid Society:
“Forty-one high-quality plants artistically arranged with natural elements of ferns and other miscellaneous greenery, driftwood, and Tennessee fieldstone in an L-shaped 2.12-m deep by 4.55-m wide by 2.27-m tall exhibit; good color flow and rhythm achieved with hanging plants attractively attached to hickory driftwood branches and wire cylinders in the style of in situ epiphytes; exceptional plants received ribbons, several best of class awards, and eight plants pulled for AOS award consideration; plant labeling is clear, distinct, and nonobtrusive, but a few misspellings.”
The CBR (20234119) was awarded to Dendrobium fuscifaucium ‘Forest Lilliputian,’ a new species of miniscule dimensions with one flower measuring 1.8 by 1.7cm, 3.1-cm height above the foliage:
“One flower on a 3.1-cm inflorescence, arising from the apex of a leafless pseudobulb; plant 1.7cm wide by 3.4cm long mounted on a 4-cm by 8-cm sphagnum moss-covered black plastic rectangular grid; six leafless pseudobulbs, an immature pseudobulb with two elliptical leaves, 0.4cm by 1.0cm; dorsal sepal obovate, light pink, apex acute; lateral sepals, medium pink, fused into mentum, cordovan; lip furled, trumpet-shaped, cordovan basally, white ring with yellow fimbriation, margin fimbriate, pink; substance moderate-firm; texture satiny, awarded for novelty, attractive miniature species from Laos.”
The Dendrobium fuscifaucium CBR award is provisional upon taxonomic verification. Note: This is likely the type specimen as no example has been found in situ. It was purchased beside the road in Laos. The plant was brought to New Orleans in a special cooler to preserve the flower in perfect condition. The plant is owned by Dr. Randy Bayer, an Emeritus botanist in the area. The photographer is a student judge from Atlanta, Jon Crate, but I also took a photo, which I include. The process took four and one-half hours to complete as we needed to take photos of all the parts of the plant and dissected flower, in a mall, surrounded by interested bystanders. SITF has okayed the plant.
An AM/AOS 82 (20234120) was awarded to Rhyncattleanthe Tropical Upgrade ‘Haley’ (Rhyncattleanthe Guess What x Cattleya Tropical Sunset), owned by Joseph Paine and photographed by Larry Hennessey, another student judge, this time from Louisiana Judging Center:
“Five stellate flowers on one upright 21.5-cm inflorescence; sepals and petals lanceolate, golden yellow, margins overlaid light magenta; lip lemon yellow, side lobes frame column, midlobe golden yellow centrally, dark magenta distally; column and anther cap cream-color; substance firm; texture crystalline, lip velvety.”
In our local monthly meeting on June 17, five awards were granted from the 17 entries. One was an unnamed Dendrobium hybrid (more about that later). We also had two of our newest nascent judges with us, Kar and Bryan. Here are the awardees:
Aerides rosea ‘RA,’ AM/AOS 83, Award #20234121, owned by Laurie and Sheila Skov:
“Fifty-one flat, pristine, white flowers on one 40-cm pendant inflorescence; sepals and petals elliptical; lip lanceolate, margins dentate; substance firm; texture crystalline.”
This was a stunning, pure white clone that was the only one in 25 seedlings they had. Quite a surprise.
Walronara Tango Fire ‘Meteor’ (Perreiraara Bangkok Sunset x Renanthera storiei), HCC/AOS 79, Award #20234122, using three or more genera, owned by Sheila Skov. The description:
“Thirty-three flat flowers on one branched, arched, 34.0-cm inflorescence; flower base color watermelon red; sepals oblanceolate (shaped like an oval lance head); petals spatulate (flattened at the ends, like a spatula); lip trilobed, yellow basally, side lobes erect, watermelon red distally, midlobe oblanceolate (more blunt than oblo-), arched downward, fuchsia, sides recurved, spur 0.6cm, watermelon red; column citrus yellow, anther cap yellow, watermelon red centrally; substance firm; texture matte; fruity fragrance.”
Very rich coloration, don’t you think?
Cymbidium ensifolium ‘Wuhoo’s Jade,’ HCC 76, Award #20234123, owned by Bryan Wu:
“Fifteen slightly cupped flowers and three buds on four upright 21.3-cm inflorescences; sepals lanceolate, light green; petals lanceolate, cream-colored, overlaid pale green; lip recurved distally, cream-colored, overlaid pale green; column cream-colored, overlaid pale green, anther cap cream-colored; substance firm; texture waxy.”
This species has been in cultivation for centuries in Japan and China and was the original “lan” that is used for all orchids in that part of Asia. There are many varieties. This one had white edges to the leaves.
Cattleya Irene’s Circle ‘Louisiana,’ AM 81 (Cattleya Irene Finney (1964) x Circle of Life), Award #20234124, owned by Al Taylor:
“Three full, slightly cupped flowers on an arched 24.0-cm inflorescence; sepals oblanceolate, rose pink; petals broadly ovate, rose pink, margin ruffled, midline flares darker rose; lip round, closed, basal half golden yellow, veined fuchsia below column, midlobe and picotee intense fuchsia, margin ruffled; column and anther cap white; substance firm; texture matte, lip velvety.”
A brilliant example of breeding with Circle of Life, which imparts very good form.
Last but certainly not least, my favorite of all, Dendrobium Liberty Creek Vernaon Parish ‘Louisiana’ (Dendrobium Nida x Stephen Batchelor), AM 85, Award #20234125, owned by Al Taylor:
“Thirty-one large, strikingly well-balanced flowers on three arched 36-cm inflorescences on one 50-cm mature cane; sepals and petals white, variably striped purple; lip white, striped purple centrally, chartreuse basally; mentum (this word means chin, a trait of all dendrobiums, formed by the lip and lateral sepals, behind the column) short; callus cream; substance firm; texture crystalline.”
The flowers were large and variable but made a brilliant display. Because this was unnamed at the time of the award, the owner had to go to the Kew list of RGS orchid hybrids and register a new name. He chose to give it a geographical name that celebrates the locale where he lives.
Our next monthly judging is on July 17. I will be in Europe at that time, and Derek Lowenstein will be in charge. Bring your plants for judging and be prepared to hear business stuff during the morning. It’s rather fun because you hear about judging issues and get to talk to a lot of orchid people. I’ll be back for the August workshop, and I’m hosting a wine and cheese for those enrolled on Friday night, so sign up soon!
We are still looking for new students so don’t hesitate to talk to someone if you are interested.
All photos of Houston Judging Center awardees were taken by Malcolm McCorquodale and are copyright 2023 by Malcolm McCorquodale, Houston, Texas. Houston Orchid Society and the American Orchid Society have permission to use these photos on their websites and in their publications provided credit is given to the photographer and the copyright statement is not removed.
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