Kelly, the flower nods a bit but for the pic the flower had been staked. You can see the stake in the one I posted a few weeks ago but I did a stake with florist wire for this one and it is hidden behind the spike in the photo.
This cross has been fairly variable. I have seen from pale to this dark red. The pouches have been variable in shape too. The flowers have held themselves differently on different plants as well. There have been a few I have considered dogs but most have been fairly nice. I think the variability has to do with this hybrid containing 4 different species.
Walter Schomburg = Eric Young x Andean Fire.
Eric Young = besseae x longifolium
Andean Fire = besseae x lindleyanum
So, we are dealing with kovachii, besseae, longifolium and lindleyanum genes combining differently in each plant.
As for kovachii being a purple flower, it truely isn't. The color variance we have seen in pictures is mostly due to the lighting and camera settings. I have seen a pic of a dark purple one, It is my understanding that there were none that were really that color.
I am sure we will see many more beautiful ones as time goes on. These are also first bloom plants, I am looking forward to seeing the second blooming on some of these. As soon as kovachii comes into blooms, I hope that some of these will be crossed back to it.
Peter, I would love to see a pic of the one that got an HCC. I wish I subscribed to Awards Quarterly.
It has been very neat to have been able to see these come into bloom! I am looking forward to seeing some of the other crosses bloom. I am also looking forward to seeing future breeding results.