A local horticultural society member showed us some slides from his
trip to Madeira. There was a jet black orchid, about 8" across, single
bloom but he had no idea what it was. Does anyone know if they are
available ?
john c

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I see a couple of possibilities:

1) It was not an orchid
2) The image was doctored

....for the following reasons:

1) As far as I know, there are no orchids native to that part of the world
that have flowers anywhere nearly that large. As a matter of fact, it's
pretty rare to find any species orchid blossom that large.
2) There are no jet black orchids, species or hybrids. Very dark purple,
maybe. The black orchid is a long-standing myth of film and fable, and I am
convinced that if one had been developed, we would have all heard about it.
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"John Carruthers" wrote in message
...
A local horticultural society member showed us some slides from his trip to
Madeira. There was a jet black orchid, about 8" across, single bloom but he
had no idea what it was. Does anyone know if they are available ?
john c

--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



---
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I see a couple of possibilities:

1) It was not an orchid
2) The image was doctored

....for the following reasons:

1) As far as I know, there are no orchids native to that part of the world
that have flowers anywhere nearly that large. As a matter of fact, it's
pretty rare to find any species orchid blossom that large.
2) There are no jet black orchids, species or hybrids. Very dark purple,
maybe. The black orchid is a long-standing myth of film and fable, and I am
convinced that if one had been developed, we would have all heard about it.
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"John Carruthers" wrote in message
...
A local horticultural society member showed us some slides from his trip to
Madeira. There was a jet black orchid, about 8" across, single bloom but he
had no idea what it was. Does anyone know if they are available ?
john c

--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



---
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2) There are no jet black orchids, species or hybrids. Very dark purple,

That's right but Coelogyne pandurata has been referred to as the black orchid
because of the very dark purple features of the flower.

Yeah, but it's not "jet black" and 8" across!

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"TRAINMAN9" wrote in message
...
2) There are no jet black orchids, species or hybrids. Very dark
purple,

That's right but Coelogyne pandurata has been referred to as the black
orchid
because of the very dark purple features of the flower.

Yeah, but it's not "jet black" and 8" across!

Now I am a complete novice, and was rather sceptical myself, the slide
had not been tweaked for colour and the hand in the frame was about
the right scale. These were not native to Madeira though, just an
oddity our member spotted in passing. Being a prize veg grower he
wasn't particularly interested in orchidacea (slob) and didn't note
the tag.
jc


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Yeah, but it's not "jet black" and 8" across!

Now I am a complete novice, and was rather sceptical myself, the slide
had not been tweaked for colour and the hand in the frame was about
the right scale. These were not native to Madeira though, just an
oddity our member spotted in passing. Being a prize veg grower he
wasn't particularly interested in orchidacea (slob) and didn't note
the tag.
jc


--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



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"John Carruthers" skrev i meddelandet
...
A local horticultural society member showed us some slides from his
trip to Madeira. There was a jet black orchid, about 8" across, single
bloom but he had no idea what it was. Does anyone know if they are
available ?
john c

--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



---
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Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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I'm guessing Tacca chantrieri. A k a the bat plant. Can be very dark
blackish purple, but not really. Plants don't do "jet" black.

Often mistaked for an orchid, and I have seen them in Madeira, but they are
originally from Malysia.

Here's a pic: http://joueb.com/orchidees/images/TACCA.jpg

Not very easy to grow, I've heard. I feel like trying, though!

//H
(Used to be HilleviP, changed my handle)

"John Carruthers" skrev i meddelandet
...
A local horticultural society member showed us some slides from his
trip to Madeira. There was a jet black orchid, about 8" across, single
bloom but he had no idea what it was. Does anyone know if they are
available ?
john c

--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.769 / Virus Database: 516 - Release Date: 24/09/2004



I'm guessing Tacca chantrieri. A k a the bat plant. Can be very dark
blackish purple, but not really. Plants don't do "jet" black.

Often mistaked for an orchid, and I have seen them in Madeira, but they are
originally from Malysia.

Here's a pic: http://joueb.com/orchidees/images/TACCA.jpg

Not very easy to grow, I've heard. I feel like trying, though!

//H
(Used to be HilleviP, changed my handle)

"H Playel" skrev i meddelandet
...

"John Carruthers" skrev i meddelandet
...
A local horticultural society member showed us some slides from his
trip to Madeira. There was a jet black orchid, about 8" across, single
bloom but he had no idea what it was. Does anyone know if they are
available ?
john c

--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.769 / Virus Database: 516 - Release Date: 24/09/2004



I'm guessing Tacca chantrieri. A k a the bat plant. Can be very dark
blackish purple, but not really. Plants don't do "jet" black.

Often mistaked for an orchid, and I have seen them in Madeira, but they
are
originally from Malysia.

Here's a pic: http://joueb.com/orchidees/images/TACCA.jpg

Not very easy to grow, I've heard. I feel like trying, though!

//H
(Used to be HilleviP, changed my handle)



Here is an even better pic:
http://www.ige.tohoku.ac.jp/kinousei...nts/tacca.html

*Drools*

"H Playel" skrev i meddelandet
...

"John Carruthers" skrev i meddelandet
...
A local horticultural society member showed us some slides from his
trip to Madeira. There was a jet black orchid, about 8" across, single
bloom but he had no idea what it was. Does anyone know if they are
available ?
john c

--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.769 / Virus Database: 516 - Release Date: 24/09/2004



I'm guessing Tacca chantrieri. A k a the bat plant. Can be very dark
blackish purple, but not really. Plants don't do "jet" black.

Often mistaked for an orchid, and I have seen them in Madeira, but they
are
originally from Malysia.

Here's a pic: http://joueb.com/orchidees/images/TACCA.jpg

Not very easy to grow, I've heard. I feel like trying, though!

//H
(Used to be HilleviP, changed my handle)



Here is an even better pic:
http://www.ige.tohoku.ac.jp/kinousei...nts/tacca.html

*Drools*

I'm guessing Tacca chantrieri. A k a the bat plant. Can be very dark
blackish purple, but not really. Plants don't do "jet" black.
Not very easy to grow, I've heard. I feel like trying, though!


That's the one :-))
Now to find a specimen.
jc


--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



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On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 15:38:49 +0100, "John Carruthers"
wrote:


I'm guessing Tacca chantrieri. A k a the bat plant. Can be very dark
blackish purple, but not really. Plants don't do "jet" black.
Not very easy to grow, I've heard. I feel like trying, though!


That's the one :-))
Now to find a specimen.
jc

EF&G had them in Chicago during the Orchid Festival.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 15:38:49 +0100, "John Carruthers"
wrote:


I'm guessing Tacca chantrieri. A k a the bat plant. Can be very dark
blackish purple, but not really. Plants don't do "jet" black.
Not very easy to grow, I've heard. I feel like trying, though!


That's the one :-))
Now to find a specimen.
jc

EF&G had them in Chicago during the Orchid Festival.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

Great!
Good hunting =)

//H

"John Carruthers" skrev i meddelandet
...

I'm guessing Tacca chantrieri. A k a the bat plant. Can be very dark
blackish purple, but not really. Plants don't do "jet" black.
Not very easy to grow, I've heard. I feel like trying, though!


That's the one :-))
Now to find a specimen.
jc


--
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/jc_atm/



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.769 / Virus Database: 516 - Release Date: 24/09/2004