How exciting - probably the first ever photograph displayed anywhere of this classic, awarded in 1910. Although not a spectacular parent, its greatest success probably lies in the Grand Canyon line (x Farnmoore), which was registered as a parent as recently as 2006. Collecting historic plants is great fun for me, and this one is pretty historic, now 100 years from its award. Pictured as well is the RHS painting...
Paph. Minotaur 'Westonbirt' FCC/RHS
- Thread starter tim
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JeanLux
Well-Known Member
wow, is this a pic of your plant??? Jean
JeanLux
Well-Known Member
congratulations then for this unique piece!!!! Jean
smartie2000
Well-Known Member
nice to own a piece of history. Sometimes I wish I knew more about complex paphs
K
Kevin
Guest
Wow! The SAME CLONE has been around for 100 YEARS?? How long do most Paphs live?
What are the parents of this one?
What are the parents of this one?
Leo Schordje
wilted blossom
That is something Tim, it is really great to see this antique with its original 100 year old mugshot. Well done. I have never seen a modern photo of this plant. Sadly, all too many of these early plants have completely disappeared.
There are a modest number of these antiques plants in various collections around the US, but I haven't heard of any collections where the focus was to collect these early breeding and exhibition cultivars. It is an interesting idea, and could be valuable to breeders.
Nice to see this one.
There are a modest number of these antiques plants in various collections around the US, but I haven't heard of any collections where the focus was to collect these early breeding and exhibition cultivars. It is an interesting idea, and could be valuable to breeders.
Nice to see this one.
Leo Schordje
wilted blossom
There is no limit to the life span of sympodial orchids. Just like your lawn grass, or other perenial plants, new growth comes up from the rhizome, old growth dies off. In the case of this 100 year old Paph, no part of the Paph will be much older than 10 or very rarely 20 years, old roots and leaves rot away, but the seed that sprouted, may have sprouted a century earlier, what is alive today is genetically identical to the plant 100 years ago.
K
Kevin
Guest
Yeah, that makes sense, but you don't often hear of it with house plants or greenhouse plants. Old homesteads that still have irises blooming in long abandoned gardens would be the same thing. Cool to think that my plants could, theoretically, outlive me!
B
biothanasis
Guest
Great!!!!!
emydura
Well-Known Member
Nice Tim. Fantastic you are collecting these old classics. So how do you come by them? Do they get advertised or do you just know breeders who have them in there collection? Are old hybrids like these expensive?
Do you think there is no limit at all on there lifespan? I remember an article about a famous clone of Callistemon (bottlebrush) that has been propagated by cuttings for 100 years or so. They are recently finding that propagated plants are showing less and less vigour over time. Basically, the genetic clone is slowly dying of old age. The same could happen to Paphs although they are such long-lived plants it could take a long time.
David
Do you think there is no limit at all on there lifespan? I remember an article about a famous clone of Callistemon (bottlebrush) that has been propagated by cuttings for 100 years or so. They are recently finding that propagated plants are showing less and less vigour over time. Basically, the genetic clone is slowly dying of old age. The same could happen to Paphs although they are such long-lived plants it could take a long time.
David
KyushuCalanthe
Just call me Tom
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Neat to see it still going and YOU have one. So what is the theoretical age of any given Paph I wonder? I know there are clonal Neofinetia well over a hundred years and going strong.
Roy
Well-Known Member
If you hear a noise outside, it will be Ross after the plant.
SlipperKing
Madd Virologist
Nice illustration Tim. How many of these 100 yr old plants do you have?
:evil:
Seriously, there are many sources for these old plants. You just have to be vigilant. I had access to a large collection and was purchasing as many plants as my space and budget would allow. Sadly, the greenhouse burned down a year ago before I could purchase all the plants I wanted to.
Great photo, Tim. It's amazing how well shaped the dorsal is considering how early a hybrid this is.
E
etex
Guest
Very nice bloom! Cool to have a piece of paph history!
Quite a few - it's not too difficult to find them, mostly in hobbyist collections or old people's collections
And for the most part they're pretty inexpensive, just a little tough to find.What's particularly interesting to me is the number of these older RHS-awarded paphs in old catalogs; I have a few catalogs from Penn Valley Orchids in the late 70s-mid 80s advertising Minotaur 'Westonbirt' (as well as a bunch of other older paphs) for $10 per growth. Makes you wonder where they all went...
Also, be aware that a number of very old paphs are still pretty commonly available: FC Puddle was awarded in 1933, Maudiae 'Magnificum' in 1901, Leeanum 'Clinkaberryanum' in 1902...get the RHS awards CD and see for yourselves!!
slippertalker
Well-Known Member
One of the very earliest hybrids still around is Paph Harrisianum 'G.S. Ball' from about 1869.
H
Hera
Guest
What a cool way to collect. NIce to have the painting as well.
