New Earth Orchids

Some 50 years ago, I saw a Peristeria elata. It was an impressive plant with these beautiful extraordinary flowers. I looked for them but could never find one I could afford then, About 4 years ago, I was able to buy a block of seedlings. This year I finally had one big enough to bloom! The inflorescence is nearly 5 feet tall and grows straight up without any need to stake it. If you look closely at the inside of the flower, you can see the “dove”. Hence the name the Dove Orchid. It is also known as the Holy Ghost orchid. Perisyeria elata is native to Central America and is the national flower of Panama.

My plant pictured here is not yet full size…just a first bloom seedling. I don’t think it qualifies for a windowsill orchid!

Peter T. Lin recently released a grex of Sc. Beaufort made with 4N (tetraploid) parents. NEO has bloomed 6 of these so far. These are pictured here along with a 4N plant derived from thhe cloning of Sc. Beaufort 'Hartford's Elmwood' AM/AOS.
We have begun to breed with these new 4N forms. They appear to breed easily as pod or pollen parent. The first of these crosses will be going to the lab shortly.