Marilyn Lee's Phragmipedium Rosalie Dixler recieved an 80
point AM/AOS in January. Glenn Lehr's Calanthe St. Aubin was scored, and just missed
an award with a 74 point score. Dick Wagner's Paphiopedilum Cocoa Cherry `Jubilee' got a
78 point HCC/AOS in February.
Orchids species are known by two names, the first is the genus
name, the second is the specific epithet. For Cattleya labiata,
Cattleya is the generic name, named for William Cattley, and
labiata is the specific epithet, in this case in reference to the
lip. In Latin, words may be masculine, feminine, or neuter.
Names ending in -um are masculine, while names ending in -a
are feminine. The specific epithet, and any varietal names
should agree in gender with the generic name. For the January
plant table, Neal Foster brought in a plant of Dendrobium
bigibbum variety compactum forma album.
Occasionally, orchids are separated or moved into other genera, and while the base of the specific epithet may or may not stay the same, its ending may need to change to agree with the gender of the new generic name. Glenn Lehr brought in an Epidendrum centradenium, but this is now known as Oerstedella centradenia. Confusing? The orchids don't think so.
We recently purchased (at the Friend's Library sale for $1.00)
an interesting little book entitled "Fun With Growing Odd and
Curious House Plants", by V. F. & G. A. Elbert (Crown Pub.,
NY, 1975). It describes 62 such plants and gives suggested
cultural conditions for each. Five of these are orchids. Listed
below are the descriptive titles for the five minichapters about
these orchids, and one additional clue. Can you identify at
least the genus of the orchid discussed by these titles?
1. The Black Leaf Orchid (it makes a good foliage plant)
2. The Giant Pansy (if that doesn't already give it away)
3. Darwin's Orchid (Of Moths and Men) (Genus and species needed for this one)
4. A Vegetable Marksman (has a quick trigger)
5. The Oddest Flower in the World (buckets of nectar and drunken insects)
Answers next month.