First Place: Rhynchostylis gigantea 'alba'
Growers: Barbara and Bob Wagner
A well grown plant with 2 inflorescences balanced on both sides of the plant. R. gigantea is native to Thailand and the Indochina area. In 1961, Rapee Sagakik writing in the AOS Bulletin, indicated that wild forms varied from pure white to pure amethyst-purple, with almost all being more or less spotted. Breeding of the selected solid color forms was often unpredictable, but eventually led to high percentages of solid colors. The 'alba' clone shown is a result of the breeding efforts to increase the availablity of the few naturally pure white clones.
Second Place and Members Choice Awards: Bl. Morning Glory
Grower: Chris Simco
Bl. Morning Glory is a primary hybrid of B. nodosa and L. purpurata. The flower retains the shape of the B. nodosa, but the color and size of the L. purpurata. Like many nodosa hybrids, the color of the flower changes from dark to lighter as it ages.
The exhibited plant had five flowers and five buds.
Third Place: Lc.Gold Digger 'Orglades Mandarin'
Grower: Roberta Williams
Lc Gold Digger (Lc. Red Gold x C. Warpaint) is well known for its bright yellow and red colors and its ability to grow specimen plants. Seven of the nine AOS awards to this grex have been cultural awards. In 1997 a plant of the exhibited clone was shown in Coral Gables, Fl, with 168 flowers on 28 inflorescences. The exhibited plant had 13 flowers on five inflorescences.
Best Species: Angraecum sesquipedale
Growers: Bill and Connie Timm
Four star shaped flowers and 2 buds on 2 inflorescences. This species was first described in 1822 and in 1862 Charles Darwin predicted it would be pollinated by a long-tongued hawk-moth based on the long spur of the flower. In 1902 Darwin's prediction was confirmed.
The species is from Madagascar, growing from sea level to 100 ft.
Growers: Ted and Marty Kellogg
One inflorescence with two yellow flowers with a red margin on the lip. The cross (Slc. Precious Stones x Sc. Beaufort) was registered in 1988. Thirty eight AOS awards, all HCC's and AM's, have been granted to the grex. Award flowers vary in color from red to yellow with various mixes of yellow, orange and red on the lip. The exhibited flower was larger than all but one of the awarded clones.