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Catasetum, Cycnoches and Mormodes are three
related genera from the Tribe Cymbidieae. Individually, each
has been considered an orchid oddity, or “botanical”, of
interest mainly to the seriously addicted enthusiast. These
plants have a brief deciduous period in winter, when the
plants need a definite dry rest period bordering on neglect.
These robust orchids are native to lowland tropical forests in
Central and South America and are usually grown in warm or
intermediate conditions.
Commercially, Catasetum,
Cycnoches (or ‘Swan’ orchids) and Mormodes (or
‘Goblin’orchids) have occupied a small market niche on the
edge of a sea of Cymbidiums, Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis,
Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, and so on.
This talk will
feature a widescreen computer slide show on some of some
excellent species of Catasetum, Cycnoches and Mormodes.
The presenter will be Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids in
Vista. Fred Clarke has been growing orchids for 30 years and
has been hybridizing for 22 of those years. With over 24 years
as a professional grower and manager in the horticultural
industry, Fred applies these skills at his orchid nursery;
Sunset Valley Orchids, located in San Diego, California.
 He is a
passionate orchid grower whose curiosity in orchids is broad
and varied. Although developing Cattleya hybrids has been his
sustaining interest, he is also actively creating new
Bulbophylum and Paphiopedilum hybrids plus some others to be
named if they work out!
His
pioneering work in Catasetum intergeneric hybrids led to the
development of several notable hybrids, most recently the grex,
Fredclarkeara After Dark, which produced “the blackest
flower ever witnessed”. This grex has received five FCC’s
and three AM’s on the first flowers shown for judging!
Fred is
an Accredited Judge in the Pacific South Judging Region. His
plants have received hundreds of quality awards from the
American Orchid Society.
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Frank Fordyce: A Lifetime in Orchids
Frank Fordyce is a
founding member of the Diablo View Orchid Society. He is
at that point in his career when he's receiving numerous
accolades for a lifetime spent in orchids. There's no
more
fitting a "Thank you" than for the society he helped
to create making his collected writing available to that
society. Much of what Frank wrote about 20 years ago is
still applicable to the hobby today, such
as the rise of the 'pot plant' industry and the pervasiveness
of mericloning. His articles on hybridizing and lines of
breeding are not to be missed by those with the curiosity that
makes someone pick
up a tooth pick and wonder 'what if?'.
Mr. Fordyce has given verbal
permission to post these articles here. We hope our
members will enjoy reading them. Fordyce
articles
Thank you, Frank, for
everything you've done for us!
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