Masdevallia cassiope - My second Masdie

[Paphy]

This is my second Masdevallia, a cassiope (vietchiana x triangularis). The plant is a division of an awarded hybrid called 'Golden Gate'. I've since discovered there are many others with different names from the same cross. I wonder how this naming convention happens?

This Masdie likes more shade than my amabilis.

The pic is showing the bloom at one/two days old. Now at 6 days old it's color is a richer golden orange/red. I'll post a more current pic once I get a chance.

[u bada]

wow that's much richer than I'd thought it'd turn out... I don't care too much about the naming process but others can comment more... but I think basically if you bloom out one of a grex yourself and it's of particular quality you just have to register it and it's unique traits through AOS or an OS with a name of your choosing. most will name after their nursery, or inspiring words, or their mother, whatever really... there are hilarious clonal names out there that's for sure

[Paphy]

yeah, way way richer than I thought it'd be. i like it, don't get me wrong, but the sales pic showed a much sunnier yellowish overall look. This flower is actually showing some darker striated ribbing. And like I said, it only got darker as time went on. I'll try post pic tomm.

So the naming thing.. Are we saying that when I see a typical acronym like 'LC/AOS' or some such it doesn't reflect the judging arena award but rather a simple registration situation?

[estación seca]

A cross between different species may be given a grex name. The grex name can be registered with the Royal Horticultural Society by the first person flowering the cross, or somebody else if that person doesn't do it. Many people wait to register a cross until it wins an award.

All the seedlings of a given cross are members of the same grex, and the grex name applies to all of them. The grex name follows the genus or nothogenus name, is capitalized, and is not included in quotes. I didn't look up your masdie, but if its grex name is Cassiope, then all the seedlings of any cross between these two species would be called Masdevallia Cassiope.

People may give a cultivar name to a given individual from the cross, usually if they think it is a special plant. This name is included in single quotes after the grex name. In the case of your Masdevallia Cassiope, the cultivar name is 'Golden Gate' . This cultivar name will only be applied to divisions or mericlones of the original plant. Many people wait to give cultivar names to clones until the clone is awarded, but some breeders don't show their good plants, yet give them clonal names.

[Paphy]

Thanks for clearing that up estacion!

Yes then, this is a grex Cassiope. The cultivar is shown as 'Golden Gate'. Actually this is a breeding done by Orchid Zone many years ago.

Ok, so the reason I bought this 'young' plant is because it's a division from a fairly old, 10+ years, very robust, large and healthy "awarded" specimen 'mother' or grex as you say. And this grex, Cassiope, is one that OZ thought was special enough to give the cultivar name 'Golden Gate' which was done I believe after the plant was awarded.

I figure all names aside, it's gotta count for somethin' that this is from a very large very healthy older plant right? But what further makes this plant special is maybe because this was the first division from that plant even after all these years and this intrigued me enough to want a rather 'exclusive' plant. Is that feature special? I don't really know but I found the bloom gorgeous and ultimately that to me is really all that matters. Awards aside, if I love it, I buy it! Assuming of course I have the conditions to grow it which apparently this cultivar seems to be okay with warm conditions, exactly the type of plant I currently require.

But as to 'awarded', I'm very new to the whole competitive side of this horticultural endeavor and so to what end does 'awarded' actually mean? Does it have to occur in some kind of arena or show-type condition or level? or is it simply part of the registration schema where you submit pics to the Royal judges? Just what level of completion and awarding are we talking here?

Because at our local club we have monthly meets where folks bring in plants to show off and they get judged by some local members, all very impromptu, and ribbons get hanged. I'm assuming this is something very very different though then what you're talking about.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Well I'd say it's special. It's beautiful and I am putting it on my wish list if I can get the growing masdie thing down.

[silken]

In North America the judges are trained thru the American Orchid Society. I believe in Europe it will be the Royal Horticultural Society. The training takes about 7 years to become a full fledged judge. In large centres, there are monthly judging centres set up. There needs to be a minimum number of judges present. I am not sure if that is 3 or more. The plants brought in are judged and if good enough, they are nominated, which is an honour in its own rite. Once nominated, they go thru very careful scrutiny by the judges who refer back to any past awards to compare by, if there are any. Many of the awards are based on the bloom alone. But there are cultural awards as well for the condition of the entire plant. They are judged on a points system and based on strict criteria. I am no expert but there are awards called Award of Merit (AM/AOS, Highly Commended Certificate (HCC/AOS) and so on. Depending on how many points it is given determines which award. I am sure one of the members who are judges can give a better explanation, but that is the general idea. If you get an award on an unnamed cross, you can then register a name with the AOS and RHS (there is a fee you must pay). As well, you would choose a cultivar name to follow that name in quotes, followed by the award. So that cultivar will carry that award status thru. For example the cross (hybrid) Bct. Little Mermaid has an awarded cultivar called 'Janet' So the name is Bct. Little Mermaid 'Janet' AM/AOS. Any clones from that plant carry the same title. If someone else made the cross Little Mermaid, it does not carry the other part of the title.

Hopefully that makes sense and gives an overall understanding. It is not every day a person wins an award. First your plant has to be in prime blooming condition at the right time to be judged. And then it needs to be perfect in the eyes of the judges based on the criteria set up for each type of orchid. Most large orchid shows are judged shows where all named plants are considered. A NOID cannot win an AOS award. That is why it is important to not slap names on NOID's when it is not a guarantee that its correct and why named plants often cost more.

[Paphy]

Silken, thanks for that in-depth educational breakdown. I think I get it. All the acronyms make much more sense now, as well as how to receive a cultivar name. And the timing thing on presentation is perfectly logical. What I'm not too clear on is how is it determined if there are a sufficient number of judges for the plant to be considered properly? Does one just need to be 'lucky' there as well that they show up? or is that something that can be looked into and kind-of planned for beforehand? or is it just a given that the major shows will have the prerequisite number?

---------- Post added at 01:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Paphy

...And this grex, Cassiope, is one that OZ thought was special enough to give the cultivar name 'Golden Gate' which was done I believe after the plant was awarded.

Actually now that I think about it, Orchid Zone is located in very close proximity to The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. And if you've ever witnessed The Bridge itself it's 'golden red-orange' hue is very much similar to what the bloom displays.. so I think in this particular case it's one of those names that's very appropriate.

[silken]

Sadly for me I am nowhere near a judging centre so only get the chance once a year when our society participates in a large show in Edmonton 500 km away. But the societies that put on the shows invite enough judges and look into that ahead of time to insure there are enough. Also judges that aren't yet fully qualified have to participate in x number of shows or judging sessions before being fully qualified ( I think) so often they are eager to attend and get their time in. Only centres large enough to ensure there are enough judges around have the monthly judging setup. They do a lot of research online and in books with each nominated orchid before it is awarded. I think there has to be a majority of judges in agreement etc. Society members are encouraged to sit in on the judging and help run plants to and from the judging area and they get to learn how it works. I have never done that yet but have done then award photography for he awarded plants and all the best in show ones. There are rules about how they are photographed for the official award photos too because they will be used in reference and comparison when judging other orchids of the same cross in the future.

[u bada]

There are a lot of judges running around SoCal so I'm sure if you enter a plant in any of the shows there will be judges for sure.