"For 10 years... volunteers... waited for the orchid to bloom... The plant... in its hanging basket... at the San Antonio Botanical Garden [Texas, US].
... this summer, 21 flowers appeared... Each one was dark purple... when lit by the sun... show a rich maroon color. ... Photos and paperwork were sent to the International Orchid Hybrid Registrar at Kew Gardens in London. By the end of August, "Charlieara San Antonio" was entered into the official records as a new hybrid. It became only the third Charlieara on the books, a class [genus] of orchid developed by one Charles Knapp, who has no connection to the Botanical Garden. Because he had spent seven years nurturing the plant, [Wayne] Marine was given the honor of bestowing its common name. He chose "San Antonio Botanical Garden" to honor its beginning. It became the second orchid from the local garden to earn an award from the American Orchid Society. ... with a register of hybrids dating to 1854... The... authority... is the Royal Horticulture Society in England, which has 137,600 registered hybrids to date and adds roughly 4,000 a year" URL : http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Flower_of_the_hour_Charlieara_San_Antonio.html photo : http://media.mysanantonio.com/images/215*143/OrchidNew_0902.ART_GHK20A9M.1_ORCHID_CHARLIEARA_SAN_ANTONIO.13166413.jpg ***************** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
