Ted Byers wrote:

Do you have any ideas or info on why paphs aren't clonable? I'll keep my
eyes open for interesting specimens.


One of the great mysteries. It actually is possible to clone
paphs. EFG Orchids had some luck with a few stem props using paphs,
remarkably enough. I've heard various anecdotal reports of a few paphs
being cloned. There is a section in Arditti's 'Micropropagation of
Orchids' on the subject. He didn't report much success, but there is a
protocol. Part of the problem seems to be 'Well, it can't be done, why
try', and part is that is it just plain hard to do it reliably.
Contamination is evidently a big issue.

Phrags are probably easier. Phrag Sedenii has been very sucessfully
cloned ('Blush'?). There was a paper published in a german orchid
journal (Die Orchideen?) quite some time ago (I have a copy somewhere,
but I'm not sure where). Herman Pigors at Oak Hill repeated the process
based on the paper and told me it worked. I've 'cloned' phrags in flask
(some crosses tend to clonally multiply in flask). Never tried taking
adult material and propagating it though.

I take it that my paph is of the 'maudiae' type, since you described that
type as having a mottled leaf. I will look especially for 'maudiae' type
paphs, similar to the one I already have, but with different colours. It
will be interesting to compare paph breeding and the transmission of colour
with phal breeding.


Well... You have more of a 'Novelty' type paph. Many paphs have
mottled or tesselated leaves. And they can be quite different. Paph
malipoense has wonderful tesselated leaves, but is not nearly as easy to
grow as Paph. Maudiae. Maudiae is Paph. lawrencianum x callosum. One
of the first paph (or orchid) hybrids ever made, registered in 1900.
Anything made with that group of paphs (the barbatum section) is often
referred to as 'Maudiae type'. Most of the Maudiae type have Maudiae in
the background, it is a good parent. If you have seen the 'vinicolor'
paphs, those are mainly Maudiae type. Another standard is the ice
green/white, exemplified by Maudiae "The Queen" AM/RHS
(http://www.ladyslipper.com/2184j.htm). Also has a Silver Medal from
the CSA, and I think AM/RHS too. Maudiae type paphs will look very
similar in form to this one.

If you are interested in paph breeding, there is another good book
by Koopowitz and Hasegawa, Novelty Slipper Orchids. Out of print, probably.

A lot of paph pictures at Antec's site (www.ladyslipper.com). More
than you can look at... I have a bunch too, but not all of the highest
quality. http://www.msu.edu/~halgren/orchids/orchidpc.htm

Rob

--
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1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a. See rule 1
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