This should be fun, I was guessing AOS would say they would not judge it.
Maybe we will get a gray answer.

As for judges playing cops--it is not that bad, they only pass on a plant,
not give a ticket with a court date. Besides, how many times have I heard a
judge say a plant was not what the entry label said it was and pass the
plant? It is a pretty common thing to hear at the centers here on the east
coast. I do not think this is a beyond a shadow of a doubt thing, much
more a preponderance of the evidence. No judge wants to be on a team that
gives an award to a incorrectly labeled plant.

Pat


"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
Rob wrote:
K Barrett wrote:

I just emailed the AOS judging committee and asked them. We'll see what
they say.


There would be no problem judging a Paph. hangianum cross in hangianum's
country of origin or a country which has allowed legal importation. For
example, Phrag. kovachii was judged at an AOS sponsored show in Peru, and
received several awards (last year?). But it would not be allowed in the
United States.

Of particular interest to me was discussion that a cross labelled as
using Paph. emersonii (legal) as a parent that had 'obviously' used P.
hangianum should also be barred. As if we can really tell that at the
judging table. "Wow, this is so nice it must have been made with
hangianum!"... Sure...



I see what you are saying, Rob, but is hangianum from Taiwan? Sorry to
split even finer legal hairs, but the US recognizes Taiwan, the Chinese
don't, and all this is beyond the mere judging of flowers...

As to your second point I agree. IMHO this policy changes the job
description from orchid judge to orchid cop, something I'm not trained
for. Its frustrating. How are you going to know beyond a shadow of a
doubt (or a preponderance of the evidence) that a plant was made with
hangianum? How are you going to know if that isn't mere jealousy? People
have been sued for less, or so I'm told.

K