Cattleya Fire Magic (C. Tokyo Magic x C. Fire Fantasy) could be found as Slc. Fire Magic (Lc. Tokyo Magic x Slc. Fire Fantasy).

This plant was registered in 2005 by H&R Nurseries in Hawaii. A quick reminder of some of the parentage in this plant...

Please read information from exhibitor:

Lc. Tokyo Magic (C. Irene Finney: standard lavender Cattleya x L. briegeri: small solid yellow species).

Slc. Fire Fantasy (Lc. Hawaiian Fantasy: splashed petal, from the one picture I found, primary white flower with lavender lip and splash on petals x S. coccinea: small red/orange species.

Previous Awards:

This cross has received 10 AOS awards (plus 1 in Australia - AOC). The awards span from 2008 to the most recent was in March 2, 2019. There are 8 awards as Cattleya Fire Magic and 2 awards as Sophrocattleya Fire Magic.

The awards are all flower awards and include 7 AM and 3 HCC.

Description:

This plant has 6 flowers on 2 inflorescence. Grown in a 6 inches pot and the flowers we are looking at are the second set of blooms from this season. It bloomed March 2019 with 2 inflorescence, 12 flowers and 1 bud. The individual flower pictures shown are of 3 different flowers to show the slight variation in the colors as the flowers open.

Flower Measurements:

NS H - 10.5 cm; NS V - 9.8 cm;

Dorsal Sep. W - 2.5 cm; Dorsal Sep. L - 5.2 cm;

Petal W - 4.5 cm; Petals L - 5.5 cm;

Lat/Sepal W - N/A; Lat/Sepal L - N/A;

Lip/Pouch W - 3.0 cm; Lip/Pouch L - 4.4 cm.

Judges' Comments

Taylor Slaughter

Hi Sergey,

I had a few minutes and this is the result. I love this flower!

This flower has very pleasing pastel color, especially with the soft flares on sepals and petals and the contrasting vividly yellow lip with its strong contrasting midlobe. The wide petals and relatively wide sepals help to fill in the circle and the flatness is a plus also. It carries three flowers on each of two inflorescences which seems to be average, some of the other awarded plants have four on an inflorescence, and some as few as two. The sizes of the segments are, with a few exceptions as to lip width, superior to any of the other awarded plants; this plant seems to carry a lip that is closer to the L. briegeri and the S. coccinea (old names), rather than the Irene Finney, which is a negative, but the color partially makes up for that. The other negative is that the ends of the petals recurve slightly, a fault, but partially explained by the influence of the splash petal grandparent.

We can’t of course tell anything about the substance and texture, but I think this flower deserves to be awarded, probably in the mid-80s for an AM.

One issue: the measurements seem to be reversed between horizontal and vertical. For instance, the dorsal sepal is given as 5.2 cm wide and 2.5 cm long, and the petal is given as 5.5 wide and 4.5 long.

Taylor

Al Messina

Six full, flat, lightly colored flowers well displayed on two erect, unstacked inflorescences. At 10.5 cm NS-H, these would be the largest of any awarded flowers. Flower count about average. If, indeed, the recent prior bloom was 12 fls and 1 bd on 2 inflorescence[s]sic, it would be more than any other awarded plant, several of which were 4 on 1 max. Measurements appear to be incorrect: NS-H of dorsal seems to be reversed; should be NS-V, and vice versa. I assume measurements for laterals similar (not given). Breigeri type smallish lip has best color of flower parts. Takes about 3 to 4 generations to breed the smallish out; but then briegeri imparts the splash, which many find desirable. Slight symmetric recurvature of petals not disqualifying.

Flower color is not as deeply saturated as prior awards but adequate for a low/mid level HCC, in my opinion. Of course, if the flower count was 6.5 on prior recent bloom, and that bloom was presented, rethinking would be in order.

Thanks for allowing me to participate.

Ginna Plude

This is a situation where I suspect the photography is not doing the actual flower color justice. While the lip is intensely color, the sepals and petals appear more on the pastel side, which for me, makes the lip out of sync with the rest of the flower. The flowers are big and appear very flat, at least from the one profile shot. They are also nicely arrange, very well spaced on the inflorescences. The other examples of awarded plants are much more vividly colored which makes the candidate plant quite different. Based on the size and confirmation of the flowers I would probably nominate it to be scored for a flower award going on the assumption that it's an issue with photo quality that is washing the color out a bit.

Bob Winkley

Hi Sergey -

Thank you for including this plant this week.

First - I love the basic form of this flower. The petals and sepals are all in a plane and well held; the petals are well proportioned and wide - the recurving at the apices is not hugely distracting; the lip curls under a little but not fatally so and has a lovely fluted margin. Definitely award quality in my opinion.

The color of this clone is so different than any of the previous awards. The base color is a very pastel yellow - the awards all appear to have a deep vibrant yellow base color. The overlay is a suffusion of fuchsia, with the flares in the same color range only more intense; the awarded flowers seem to favor more intense hues of red and the overlay of color is both dramatic and deep. All that said, the lip of our flower compares favorably to the colors found in the awards and really draws attention to itself.

This is a flower that I would truly want to see up close and personal since it's possible that the overall shading in person has a vibrancy that a photo cannot pick up; right now the coloration appears uneven from flower to flower, almost muddy on some, and for that reason I do not think I would put the plant forth for an award.

Bob W.

Deb Bodei

Cattleya Fire Magic

General Observations:

This complex hybrid produced a very different color from its other awarded siblings.

Specific Considerations

- Form is generally good with nice size on all segments. Flower is relatively full, round and flat with good symmetry.

- Petals are slightly reflexed at the apices, but that is expected for this breeding.

- The lip not meeting over the column is not pleasing to me. It resembles a split seam.

- Although I find the color of the sepals and petals more appealing than some of the other awarded siblings, I find the hot color of the lip to be clashing with the other cool sherbet-colored segments.

- The plant was also not in pristine condition and the blooms did not present themselves in a way that they could all be photographed together since they were split in two directions on the plant.

-As I am describing some of the attributes the plant almost seemed to have a bit of split personality and almost charmed me since it could be named Banana Split with the look and its coloring. I almost became ‘split’ in my decision.

Recommendation for nomination:

I would not recommend this plant for an award since the form and condition was not good enough to get me past the slightly awkward color combination and distraction of the lip separation. However, on another bloom I might be tempted.

Thank you for considering my commentary,

Deb

Carrie Buchman

Cattleya Fire Magic

The colors in the lip are stunning! In one photo the lip, column and dorsal are perfectly aligned and, in another photo, they are not (so I’m assuming they are different flowers). The side picture indicates that the flower is pretty flat. The colors of the petals and sepals are washed out in my opinion especially compared with the awarded clones of this cross. Its floriferousness is 3 flowers/inflorescence which pretty much matches up to the awarded clones. I would pass on this plant.

Kind Regards,

Carrie Buchman

Cathy Higgins

The hybrid we are looking at has 11 prior awards, one given at our Center (MAJC) in Feb. '08 to a plant exhibited by Waldor Orchids. The current nominee has more flowers and is a larger size than the average for previous awards, but it lacks the dramatic and intense color that the hybrid can produce. Nevertheless, the color is pleasing (especially the lip) and the shape is good. The flowers are pleasingly arranged on the two inflorescences. I would not nominate it for a flower award, but if it were nominated, I'd score it in the HCC range.

Cathy Higgins

Christian Carrillo

Cattleya Fire Magic:

I like the candidate and it makes a nice flower: the form is round and flat, two great features. As noted, the candidate is even bigger than some of the more recent awards in natural spread, dorsal, etc.

While a nice flower, I do not find the candidate of award quality for two reasons. First, it lacks the depth and intensity of color I want to see in this line of breeding. I find the yellow lacking depth and presence; it looks washed-out. Same for the rose flares; while they are nice, they appear muted. Sadly, the flower's ivory base color is more pronounced than the other colors and thus, doesn't make for an awardable presentation.

Secondly, while large and flat, I don't find the flowers full enough. I would expect to see a better petal fullness, especially by the base.

Exhibitor - Waldor Orchids, NJ