Cattleya Bob Betts awards and cultivars

[terryros]

NOTE: I have updated this post as I hear about new information from other forum members, including: NEslipper

I was recently able to purchase a mericlone (Agdia-strip negative) of Cattleya Bob Betts ‘Tacoma’ from Chadwicks. There were also Slippertalk posts about Bob Betts cultivars ‘White Lightning’, ‘White Wings’, ‘The Virgin’, and ‘Lines’ during this last year, so I was interested in the award history for Bob Betts.

The Bob Betts story begins with C. Bow Bells (Edithiae x Suzanne Hye) which was registered in 1945 by Black and Flory in England. This cross strongly boosted the popularity of white Cattleya hybrids. The Suzanne Hye parent was lost in the Atlantic during WW2 and was something very special because subsequent attempts to remake Bow Bells with other Suzanne Hye cultivars have not been as successful.

Bob Betts is (Bow Bells x mossiae) and was registered by Clint McDade of Rivermont Orchids in 1950, so the cross may have been made before Bow Bells was registered. There was also something special about this cross, most specifically the mossiae parent, because remakes of Bob Betts using other mossiae cultivars were reported to have been less successful.

The following graph using data from the AOS OrchidPro database (plus updates from the RHS system as I hear about them) show Bob Betts awards since its registration.



The first award was in 1952. The awards from 1952-1956 must be from the first Bob Betts cross (grex). There was then a rapid rise to a peak in 1958/59 and then a rapid fall. Plants after 1958/59 were a mixture of original grex plants plus the beginnigs of self and sibling Bob Betts crosses. For example, NEslipper reports that ‘The Virgin’, awarded in 1960, came from Rivermont Orchids cross (Bob Betts ‘Rivermont’ x Bob Betts ‘#52’).

The Bob Betts awards were mostly AM until 1957 and then HCCs became dominant. This could have been the result of evolving judging standards for the cross. The only FCCs have been ’Conqueror’ (1954), ‘The Virgin’ (1960), ‘White Wings’ (1961), and ‘Sestina’ (1967).

The 2012 Bob Betts award was a CCE for the cultivar ‘York’, which had also received an AM in 1966. This is the only AOS culture award for Bob Betts. The award description notes 8 flowers on 2 inflorescences with the largest flower 17.8 cm in horizontal NS. The 4 flowers per spike is unique amongst Bob Betts awards.

In case it is of interest to some, I am listing all Bob Betts awards chronologically. The is likely missing some RHS awards, but I include them as I hear about them.

1952 0027: Jeanette (AM); Wilmer W. Steiner

1954 0023: Rivermont (AM); Rivermont Orchids
1954 0057: Carmen (AM); Gabriel Jiminez
1954 RHS: Conqueror (FCC); unknown

1955 0001: Polar Bear (AM); B.O. Bracey & Co.
1955 0008: Mandarin (AM); Alberts & Merkel Bros Inc.
1955 0043: Lines (AM); Lines Orchids, Inc.
1955 0077: Miami Shores (AM); Field’s Orchids
1955 RHS: White Wings (AM); H.W.B. Schroeder

1956 0004: Gables (AM); Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Sparks
1956 0005: White Dawn (AM); Dr. Ralph O. Wagner
1956 0009: Margaret (AM); Herman Dressier
1956 0042: Tacoma (AM); Philip R. Fehl-andt

1957 0024: Phoebe (AM); Vallemar Gardens
1957 0033: Vienna (AM); H.E. Bufkin
1957 0055: Leo Holguin (AM); William E. Farrell
1957 0061: Goliath (AM); Dr. E.M. McPeak
1957 0112: Herbrita (HCC); H.W. Crothers

1958 0021: Sunny Hills (AM); Arthur E. Folk
1958 0040: Malibu (HCC); Arthur Freed Orchids
1958 0041: Snow Queen (HCC); Murray Spencer
1958 0073: Alamo (AM); Rivermont Orchids
1958 0079: Liberty Hill (AM); Charles M. Plaxico
1958 0258: Del Rey (HCC); R.J. Chrisman
1958 0326: Tulsa (HCC); Cecil e. Stanfield
1958 0341: White Caps (AM); Trade Winds Orchids

1959 0014: Waldens Ridge (HCC); Lines Orchids
1959 0020: Lea (AM); Yen Tim Loo
1959 0063: Betty (HCC); Chew Fong
1959 0083: Arden (HCC); Virgil S. Ford
1959 0110: Alfred J. Proebstle (AM); Cecil Stanfield
1959 0191: Mary (AM); Chew Wong
1959 0207: Thelma (HCC); Vernon R. Duckett
1959 0293: Matthew (HCC); Kazuto Oda
1959 0479: El Sueno (AM); Dos Pueblos Orchid Co.

1960 0019: Jill (HCC); Trade Winds Orchids
1960 0038: Williamson (HCC); unknown
1960 0050: The Virgin (FCC); Geroge A. Cutler
1960 0129: Virtue (HCC); Westenberger Orchid Co.
1960 0135: Carol (AM); Chew Wong
1960 0144: Marguerite (HCC); Richard C. Wright
1960 0145: Pat Low (HCC); Chew Wong
1960 0182: Cheryl Jean (HCC); Joe W. Jay

1961 0009: Montecito (HCC); Dos Pueblos Orchid Co.
1961 0087: Cotton Ball (AM); Miss Nancy Ann Abbott
1961 0277: Charles (AM); A.J. Bingham
1961 RHS: White Wings (FCC); H.W.B. Schroeder

1962 0002: Wong (HCC); Lisley Orchids, Inc.
1962 0049: Cherry (AM); Lines Orchids
1962 0062: Edean (HCC); Ernest Iwanaga
1962 0348: Ernest (HCC); C. Hausermann Co.

1963 0047: Linda Vista (HCC); Mrs. K Francis
1963 0119: Lillian (HCC); Mrs. Leo K. Gold
1963 0407: White Christmas (HCC); Arthur Freed Orchids

1964 0385: Theodora (HCC); Westenberger Orchid Co.

1965 Aust.OS: Pearl (AM); H. Schultze

1966 0003: Sissie (HCC); Mr. and Mrs. Howard W. King
1966 0064: Mary Ann (AM); Babe and Ruby Lorenzen
1966 0112: Aridine (AM); Kensington Orchids, Inc.
1966 0133: Worrall (HCC); P. Worrall Johnston
1966 0161: York (AM); Hausermann’s Orchids, Inc.

1967 0064: Sestina (AM); Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Barnett
1967 0094: Sestina (FCC); Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Barnett
1967 0194: Flo (AM); Kenneth F. Kawamura
1967 0198: Robert Nishi (HCC); Mrs. Violet Nishi
1967 0557: Wilbur Davis (HCC); Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Chadwick
1967 Aust.OS: Opal (HCC); R.F. Evans

1969 0296: Woodland Hills (HCC); Dorn Orchid Range, Inc.

1970 0138: Marie Louise (AM); Kensington Orchids, Inc.

1972 0165: Ramona (HCC); Cecil E. Stanfield

1973 Aust.OS: White Wings (AM); W. Hughes

1974 0312: Sissie (AM); Howard W. King
1974 Aust.OS: Sestina (HCC); G. Giles

2012 3492: York (CCE); Jim & Annette Lurton

2023 2062: Glorie (AM): Firelli Alonso and Jon Crate

 

[monocotman]

That is quite some exposition Terry!
Well done, a real labour of love. Great information.
My clone of white lightning has buds in the sheath…..

 

[Ray]

Wow! Great digging.

Merritt gave me a division of 'Mary Louise' back when I had starry-eyed ideas of supplying blossoms to local florists.

 

[terryros]

That is quite some exposition Terry!
Well done, a real labour of love. Great information.
My clone of white lightning has buds in the sheath…..

It would be fun to know the origin of ‘White Lightning’! Someone knows. It may be too late to track down the history of the older cultivars in terms of who created them, who exhibited them, who cloned them, etc.

 

[terryros]

Wow! Great digging.

Merritt gave me a division of 'Mary Louise' back when I had starry-eyed ideas of supplying blossoms to local florists.

It was a great idea, Ray, just a decade or two too late!

 

[Ozpaph]

thank-you for your research

 

[NEslipper]

Thanks for starting this thread, it's nice to have all this information in one place! I like the AOS database for the photos of recent awards, but for anything that was awarded before 1965 I find orchids.org usually has more information. Incidentally, most of the older awards are listed in the original AOS bulletin with flower dimensions and oftentimes an accompanying black and white photo, but these have not been linked to the entry in Orchids Pro. I imagine it would be a herculean task to go through all those decades of awards.


1952 0027: Jeanette (AM); Wilmer W. Steiner

1954 0023: Rivermont (AM); Rivermont Orchids
1954 0057: Carmen (AM); Gabriel Jiminez

1955 0008: Mandarin (AM); Alberts & Merkel Bros Inc
1955 0043: Lines (AM); Lines Orchids, Inc.
1955 0077: Miami Shores (AM); Fields’ Orchids
1955: Polar Bear (AM), B.O. Bracey & Co.

1956 0004: Gables (AM); Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Sparks
1956 0005: White Dawn (AM); Dr. Ralph O. Wagner
1956 0009: Margaret (AM); Herman Dressier
1956 0042: Tacoma (AM); Philip R. Fehl-andt

1957 0024: Phoebe (AM); Vallemar Gardens
1957 0033: Vienna (AM); H.E. Bufkin
1957 0055: Leo Holguin (AM); William E. Farrell
1957 0061: Goliath (AM); Dr. E.M. McPeak
1957 0112: Herbrita (HCC); H.W. Crothers

1958 0021: Sunny Hills (AM); Arthur E. Folk
1958 0040: Malibu (HCC); Arthur Freed Orchids
1958 0041: Snow Queen (HCC); Murray Spencer
1958 0073: Alamo (AM); Rivermont Orchids
1958 0079: Liberty Hill (AM); Charles M. Plaxico
1958 0258: Del Rey (HCC); R.J. Chrisman
1958 0326: Tulsa (HCC); Cecil E. Stanfield
1958 0341: White Caps (AM); Trade Winds Orchids

1959 0014: Waldens Ridge (HCC); Lines Orchids
1959 0020: Lea (AM); Yen Tim Loo
1959 0063: Betty (HCC); Chew Wong
1959 0083: Arden (HCC); Virgil S. Ford
1959 0110: Alfred J. Proebstle (AM); Cecil Stanfield
1959 0191: Mary (AM); Chew Wong
1959 0207: Thelma (HCC); Vernon R. Duckett
1959 0293: Matthew (HCC); Kazuto Oda
1959 0479: El Sueno (AM); Dos Pueblos Orchid Co.

1960 0019: Jill (HCC); Trade Winds Orchids
1960 0038: Williamson (HCC); unknown
1960 0050: The Virgin (FCC); George A. Cutler
1960 0129: Virtue (HCC); Westenberger Orchid Co.
1960 0135: Carol (AM); Chew Wong
1960 0144: Marguerite (HCC); Richard C. Wright
1960 0145: Pat Low (HCC); Chew Wong
1960 0182: Cheryl Jean (HCC); Joe W. Jay

1961 0009: Montecito (HCC); Dos Pueblos Orchid Co.
1961 0087: Cotton Ball (AM); Miss Nancy Ann Abbott
1961 0277: Charles (AM); A.J. Bingham

1962 0002: Wong (HCC); Ilsley Orchids, Inc.
1962 0049: Cherry (AM); Lines Orchids
1962 0062: Edean (HCC); Ernest Iwanaga
1962 0348: Ernest (HCC); C. Hausermann Co.

1963 0047: Linda Vista (HCC); Mrs. K. Francis
1963 0119: Lillian (HCC); Mrs. Leo K. Gold
1963 0407: White Christmas (HCC); Arthur Freed Orchids

1964 0385: Theodora (HCC); Westenberger Orchid Co.

1966 0003: Sissie (HCC); Mr. and Mrs. Howard W. King
1966 0064: Mary Ann (AM); Babe and Ruby Lorenzen
1966 0112: Aridine (AM); Kensington Orchids, Inc.
1966 0133: Worrall (HCC); P. Worrall Johnston
1966 0161: York (AM); Hausermann’s Orchids, Inc.

1967 0064: Sestina (AM); Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Barnett
1967 0094: Sestina (FCC); Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Barnett
1967 0194: Flo (AM); Kenneth F. Kawamura
1967 0198: Robert Nishi (HCC); Mrs. Violet Nishi
1967 0557: Wilbur Davis (HCC); Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Chadwick

1969 0296: Woodland Hills (HCC); Dorn Orchid Range, Inc.

1970 0138: Marie Louise (AM); Kensington Orchids, Inc.

1972 0165: Ramona (HCC); Cecil E. Stanfield

1974 0312: Sissie (AM); Mr and Mrs. Howard W. King

2012 3492: York (CCE); Jim & Annette Lurton

2023 2062: Glorie (AM): Firelli Alonso and Jon Crate

 

[NEslipper]

I grow both Bob Betts 'The Virgin' FCC/AOS and 'White Wings' AM/RHS, FCC/RHS. 'The Virgin' was awarded in 1960 and according to the AOS Heritage Auction Booklet is the result of a sibling cross performed by Clint McDade at Rivermont Orchids of Bob Betts 'Rivermont' AM/AOS x Bob Betts '#52'. The clone 'White Wings' is not in the AOS registry because it was awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in London. It received an AM in 1955 and an FCC for a spike with 3 flowers in 1961 to H.W.B. Schröder. Another FCC clone, which I do not grow, is Bob Betts 'Conqueror' FCC/RHS awarded in 1954. Given the early dates of the awards, 'White Wings' and 'Conqueror' are likely from the original Bob Betts grex.

 

[monocotman]

Mathias Seelis at Shogun Hawaii grows many clones of Bow Bells and Bob Betts. He has several divisions available for those of you in the US. He may be able to shed light on the origins of white lightning.

 

[terryros]

Thanks for starting this thread, it's nice to have all this information in one place! I like the AOS database for the photos of recent awards, but for anything that was awarded before 1965 I find orchids.org usually has more information. Incidentally, most of the older awards are listed in the original AOS bulletin with flower dimensions and oftentimes an accompanying black and white photo, but these have not been linked to the entry in Orchids Pro. I imagine it would be a herculean task to go through all those decades of awards.


1952 0027: Jeanette (AM); Wilmer W. Steiner

1954 0023: Rivermont (AM); Rivermont Orchids
1954 0057: Carmen (AM); Gabriel Jiminez

1955 0008: Mandarin (AM); Alberts & Merkel Bros Inc
1955 0043: Lines (AM); Lines Orchids, Inc.
1955 0077: Miami Shores (AM); Fields’ Orchids
1955: Polar Bear (AM), B.O. Bracey & Co.

1956 0004: Gables (AM); Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Sparks
1956 0005: White Dawn (AM); Dr. Ralph O. Wagner
1956 0009: Margaret (AM); Herman Dressier
1956 0042: Tacoma (AM); Philip R. Fehl-andt

1957 0024: Phoebe (AM); Vallemar Gardens
1957 0033: Vienna (AM); H.E. Bufkin
1957 0055: Leo Holguin (AM); William E. Farrell
1957 0061: Goliath (AM); Dr. E.M. McPeak
1957 0112: Herbrita (HCC); H.W. Crothers

1958 0021: Sunny Hills (AM); Arthur E. Folk
1958 0040: Malibu (HCC); Arthur Freed Orchids
1958 0041: Snow Queen (HCC); Murray Spencer
1958 0073: Alamo (AM); Rivermont Orchids
1958 0079: Liberty Hill (AM); Charles M. Plaxico
1958 0258: Del Rey (HCC); R.J. Chrisman
1958 0326: Tulsa (HCC); Cecil E. Stanfield
1958 0341: White Caps (AM); Trade Winds Orchids

1959 0014: Waldens Ridge (HCC); Lines Orchids
1959 0020: Lea (AM); Yen Tim Loo
1959 0063: Betty (HCC); Chew Wong
1959 0083: Arden (HCC); Virgil S. Ford
1959 0110: Alfred J. Proebstle (AM); Cecil Stanfield
1959 0191: Mary (AM); Chew Wong
1959 0207: Thelma (HCC); Vernon R. Duckett
1959 0293: Matthew (HCC); Kazuto Oda
1959 0479: El Sueno (AM); Dos Pueblos Orchid Co.

1960 0019: Jill (HCC); Trade Winds Orchids
1960 0038: Williamson (HCC); unknown
1960 0050: The Virgin (FCC); George A. Cutler
1960 0129: Virtue (HCC); Westenberger Orchid Co.
1960 0135: Carol (AM); Chew Wong
1960 0144: Marguerite (HCC); Richard C. Wright
1960 0145: Pat Low (HCC); Chew Wong
1960 0182: Cheryl Jean (HCC); Joe W. Jay

1961 0009: Montecito (HCC); Dos Pueblos Orchid Co.
1961 0087: Cotton Ball (AM); Miss Nancy Ann Abbott
1961 0277: Charles (AM); A.J. Bingham

1962 0002: Wong (HCC); Ilsley Orchids, Inc.
1962 0049: Cherry (AM); Lines Orchids
1962 0062: Edean (HCC); Ernest Iwanaga
1962 0348: Ernest (HCC); C. Hausermann Co.

1963 0047: Linda Vista (HCC); Mrs. K. Francis
1963 0119: Lillian (HCC); Mrs. Leo K. Gold
1963 0407: White Christmas (HCC); Arthur Freed Orchids

1964 0385: Theodora (HCC); Westenberger Orchid Co.

1966 0003: Sissie (HCC); Mr. and Mrs. Howard W. King
1966 0064: Mary Ann (AM); Babe and Ruby Lorenzen
1966 0112: Aridine (AM); Kensington Orchids, Inc.
1966 0133: Worrall (HCC); P. Worrall Johnston
1966 0161: York (AM); Hausermann’s Orchids, Inc.

1967 0064: Sestina (AM); Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Barnett
1967 0094: Sestina (FCC); Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Barnett
1967 0194: Flo (AM); Kenneth F. Kawamura
1967 0198: Robert Nishi (HCC); Mrs. Violet Nishi
1967 0557: Wilbur Davis (HCC); Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Chadwick

1969 0296: Woodland Hills (HCC); Dorn Orchid Range, Inc.

1970 0138: Marie Louise (AM); Kensington Orchids, Inc.

1972 0165: Ramona (HCC); Cecil E. Stanfield

1974 0312: Sissie (AM); Mr and Mrs. Howard W. King

2012 3492: York (CCE); Jim & Annette Lurton

2023 2062: Glorie (AM): Firelli Alonso and Jon Crate

I was hoping that someone could access that old information. I am going to edit my original post to update the information as you have found. I will cite your good work.

 

[terryros]

I grow both Bob Betts 'The Virgin' FCC/AOS and 'White Wings' AM/RHS, FCC/RHS. 'The Virgin' was awarded in 1960 and according to the AOS Heritage Auction Booklet is the result of a sibling cross performed by Clint McDade at Rivermont Orchids of Bob Betts 'Rivermont' AM/AOS x Bob Betts '#52'. The clone 'White Wings' is not in the AOS registry because it was awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in London. It received an AM in 1955 and an FCC for a spike with 3 flowers in 1961 to H.W.B. Schröder. Another FCC clone, which I do not grow, is Bob Betts 'Conqueror' FCC/RHS awarded in 1954. Given the early dates of the awards, 'White Wings' and 'Conqueror' are likely from the original Bob Betts grex.

I will update my original post to get that information in. Do you think there were other RHS awards for Bob Betts?

 

[Ray]

It was a great idea, Ray, just a decade or two too late!

Well.... It was Georgetown SC in 1981, so I did sell a few blossoms to local florists, but that was before I started travelling 6-7 days a week.

 

[NEslipper]

I will update my original post to get that information in. Do you think there were other RHS awards for Bob Betts?

Yes, I believe there are, but those are the two clones most widely available in the US. In addition to ‘White Wings’ FCC/RHS and ‘Conqueror’ FCC/RHS I believe ‘Excelsior’, ‘Majestic’, ‘Mont Millais’, ‘Perfection’, ‘Phoebe’, and ‘Snowdon’ were all awarded. However, I do not have access to the RHS database to confirm the awards.

 

[southernbelle]

Terry, I have an original division of Bob Betts ‘Liberty Hill’ AM/AOS (1958) from Waldor. It bloomed in June and had 1 spike with 3 flowers, but I didn’t get any photos because the blossoms were damaged by thrips

 

[terryros]

Yes, I believe there are, but those are the two clones most widely available in the US. In addition to ‘White Wings’ FCC/RHS and ‘Conqueror’ FCC/RHS I believe ‘Excelsior’, ‘Majestic’, ‘Mont Millais’, ‘Perfection’, ‘Phoebe’, and ‘Snowdon’ were all awarded. However, I do not have access to the RHS database to confirm the awards.

Do you think RHS has an online database that they make available to their members? I can understand if it is not available to the public because it has to be paid for.

 

[terryros]

Terry, I have an original division of Bob Betts ‘Liberty Hill’ AM/AOS (1958) from Waldor. It bloomed in June and had 1 spike with 3 flowers, but I didn’t get any photos because the blossoms were damaged by thrips

That was a nice blooming. How did thrips get into your room?

 

[NEslipper]

Do you think RHS has an online database that they make available to their members? I can understand if it is not available to the public because it has to be paid for.

I am not entirely sure, they have a "plant finder" feature on the website that I've typed grexes into and it returns the names of plants that I know are awarded, so it seems like they have at least some partial information online. I can't see the details about the plants as they're behind a paywall.

 

[NEslipper]

I also forgot to mention that the Australian Orchid Council has a really nice, easy-to-use award database online. There are 4 Bob Betts clones awarded by the AOC:
1. 'Opal' HCC, 1967, Evans R.F.
2. 'Pearl' AM, 1965, Schultze H.
3. 'White Wings' AM, 1973, Hughes W.
4. 'Sestina' HCC, 1974, Giles G.

 

[terryros]

I also forgot to mention that the Australian Orchid Council has a really nice, easy-to-use award database online. There are 4 Bob Betts clones awarded by the AOC:
1. 'Opal' HCC, 1967, Evans R.F.
2. 'Pearl' AM, 1965, Schultze H.
3. 'White Wings' AM, 1973, Hughes W.
4. 'Sestina' HCC, 1974, Giles G.

Thanks. I will look to add those in to the list.

 

[southernbelle]

That was a nice blooming. How did thrips get into your room?

How the $@&? do I know?? This was the second time it’s happened to me with my summer cattleya bloom. Had to come in on new plants, I guess. I do usually quarantine for a couple of weeks watching the plant for bugs, but think I will also start treating at least with Safari granules and give them about a month before integrating into the collection. Before orchids, I was used to thrips and two spotted spider mites on roses which are visible with the naked eye, but thrips and mites on orchids (other than maybe the adults) are almost microscopic. I have a 40x lighted magnifier and can only see them if I wipe them off (in their honeydew) with an alcohol swab and then they squirm! I can’t identify the bug, but I see the movement. Otherwise they look like an indiscernible speck of brown dust. About 3 years ago, I lost a whole season of bloom before I finally saw a few adults on a spike and knew what I was dealing with. This year I saw no signs until open flowers showed signs. I’ve treated with Safari granules and Bayer 3 in 1 spray on obviously infected plants and have sprayed all new sheaths. Keith Davis told me he always sprays sheaths preventatively because thrips are so prevalent. I might have to adopt that. It really is frustrating and discouraging to lose a significant number of blooms you’ve been waiting all year on. I’m in a discouraging period, but this too shall pass. Here is an example of obvious thrip damage. It didn’t show until the flower was open s few days. The edges become almost translucent and the flowers wilt. I had it happen to two plants before I realized it wasn’t too much sun on the blooms. Then this one was obvious.
Oh, and the really bad thing is that thrips move between plants (unlike some other bugs) and therefore spread virus!!!