First Place, Speakers Choice and Members Choice: Brassavola Little Stars

Grower: Elinor Burton

This cross of two Brassavola species (nodosa x subulifolia) created floriferous seedlings which produce numerous flowers on relatively small plants. The grex has received several AOS awards, all for culture.The exhibited plant with over 250 flowers on seventy inflorescences was within the range of the cultural awards. The hemisperical mound of flowers caught the eye of the judges, the speaker and the members.

Second Place: Vuylstekeara Linda 'Ember'

Grower: Barbara Wich

Although this plant had a label from a well-known vender imprinted with the name as listed above, several 'observers' thought that the plant was really a clone of Vuyl. Linda Isher. Your webmaster couldn't find a difinitive match for either name - a process made more difficult because of the recent taxonomic changes in the Oncidium group. Whatever the name, theplant presented one inflorescence with 27 flowers of a solid dark red color with a blush colored lip. We seldom see deeply colored plants in this group in our warm Florida climate.

Third Place: Paphiopedilum Dragon Knife?

Grower: Carol Wood

Carol purchased this plant as labeled about three years ago. The soft green dorsal and petals which have a light overlay of chesnut create a very pleasing paph. However, P. Dragon Knife is a cross of P. sukhakulii x P. Makul, which would be expected to produce a smaller pointed dorsal and extended petals with warts or spots. .This may be a case of mis-labeling by the vendor.

Species of the month and Members Choice: Laelia anceps v. veitchiana 'Fort Caroline' HCC/AOS

Grower: Bill and Betsy Scevola

L.. anceps v. veitchiana 'Fort Caroline' received its HCC/AOS award in 1985. The 'blue' lip colored forms of the species are known as v. veitchian, and only two clones have received AOS quality awards. The exhibited plant was well grown with 20 flowers on six inflorescenses.