Wish list addition: Paphiopedilum Winged Flight 'Elektra' HCC/AOS

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I saw this image at the AOS home page (it's not there anymore, hasn't been for a long time now) and the only other site I found any picture of this form has made it impossible to link even to the page the picture is on and has made it pretty clear he doesn't want people to look at it (hint - Google image search the name exactly as it appears in the title).

It is the result of a cross between P. Berenece & P. lowii which apparently scored a 78 (80-89 inclusive out of 100 would have made it an AM/AOS (Award of Merit/American Orchid Society vs Highly Commended Certificate - See here for more on AOS awards)) and was named "Elektra."

Paph. Winged Flight is a simultaneous multifloral, which is pretty self explanatory - multiple blooms all open at the same time. These can put on a fantastic show though a sequential may last longer (at the expense of each individual flower not lasting as long).

I'm mostly using 'Elektra' as an example here - It's a fantastic looking Paphiopedilum But it's not the only really nice looking Paph. Yes I would like to have an 'Elektra' but it's more the idea that I love.


Paph. Michael Koopowitz 'Norma' HCC/AOS is a good example of a very dramatic simultaneous multifloral Paph that's also been awarded.

Many of the most dramatic Paphs also happen to be Simultaneous bloomers. I like the horizontal petals on Paphiopedilum Winged Flight a lot though the long twisted petals of P. Mount Sander (for example) are undeniably stunning as well. Both the horizontal and vertical petals give a very graceful very formal look to the flowers and really on any given day I might prefer one or the other.

I suppose what I'm getting at is that there are a lot of really cool Paphiopedilum cultivars and I don't have any of them. A good Paph is a pricey Paph, my collection will not grow fast but a Paphiopedilum that will send up multiple spikes each year each with multiple blooms (or even just a single spike with multiple blooms) is a Paph worth buying.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, February 2010

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This is my first Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Lots to post pictures of though!

My Phalaenopsis NOID continues to flower its strange recently green flowers:



Phalaenopsis NOID

This plant is on my mom's plant stand with some of her African Violets, Streptocarpus, and Chirita. There's always something flowering on this stand. (Did you go out and buy yourself an African Violet?)



Saintpaulia 'Ma's Crime Scene' - Fantastic colour on a refreshingly simple flower. The thin white chalk line around the leaves is the perfect finishing touch on this well named variety. This one's a personal favourite.


Streptocarpus 'Royal Grape 7122' - this is the best performing Strep we have, this plant has been in bloom continually since December. I wish I could say that about all Streps but no luck. This one's 100% a keeper.



Saintpaulia NOID - I've posted this plant before but this time around it's even better.

My Paphiopedlium is still going strong downstairs by the big south window (space on this table is at a premium) on the big plant table with still more African Violets and the like.



Paphiopedilum NOID - When I "finished" my photoshoot with this guy earlier in the month I lucked out - the sun was shining right on the plant table and filling the room with light. I pulled out my camera and took a few shots of it backlit by the sun. Here you can really see the beautiful stripes on the dorsal sepal which are my favourite detail on these flowers.

There's more Gesneriads flowering around the house - there always are. This morning I counted 7 African Violets, 1 Streptocarpus, 1 Chirita 'Stardust' and a Streptocarpella all in bloom right now. Relatively speaking this is a smallish number compared to the size of the collection but it's still a good amount of colour to have around on a February day.

And of course, if you're looking for flowers look no further than you local orchid show.

Paphiopedilum NOID Flowers

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Been watching this one since December but it finally opened (fully open on the 2nd, started to open a few days before that).



Paphiopedilum NOID

This was the first orchid I personally re-flowered. It skipped a year after a (probably poorly timed) re-potting but is stronger now than ever with a larger flower than normal. These flowers last a long time so by the time they finish hopefully we'll be a lot closer to spring. I know a little bit more about what these guys need so it should only get better in the future. I may never see more than one flower on this plant, regardless of age - that's driven more by genetics then culture. Best I can hope for is just the same thing but better.

As far as Paphs go this is fairly tame. The stripes are subtle and the spots are few, and I think all on the top edge of the two side petals, and blend in well with the dark colour of the flower. Love the colour as well, only thing that would improve it would be just a little bit more contrast in the stripes on the dorsal sepal (and of course a more symmetrical flower but that's not too important to me).

Two years ago it was in bud in April and flowering in June. I prefer the winter flowering I think, there's more than enough going on in June but I like my Orchids to do their stuff in winter.

Paphiopedilum NOID

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Paph. NOID

This was basically my first orchid (though there were some around the house before that I didn't pay much attention to) that I must have gotten around four years ago this spring and the first orchid I ever re-bloomed.

It may be in bud now but I know I shouldn't get my hopes up - these things are extremely slow to come into flower though the flowers last for a very long time once they are flowering. I recall two years ago it was in bud in April (probably before that though I was away at school) and still in flower in early June, though getting towards the end of the flower's life.

Even without the flowers (which are a fairly typical shape for a Paph. in a fantastic dark purple) this would be worth growing for the leaves, something that puts this Phal. fairly high up on my list of favourite houseplants.