First candidate for this month is an Acemannia Linear Spots (Acineta superba x Lueddemannia striata). 

This is a very cool plant!

Acemannia Linear Spots was originated by Ecuagenera and registered by W. Jasen in 2021. 

Acineta superba (Kunth) Rchb.f. (1863) is accepted species by POWO Kew and the native range of this species is N. & W. South America.

Lueddemannia striata G.Gerlach & M.H.Weber (2006) is relatively new species and accepted by POWO Kew. The native range of this species is Peru.

Previous Awards:

There are no AOS awards for this cross. There are no AOS awards for genus Acemannia at all!

Acineta superba has 20 AOS awards.

There are no AOS awards for Lueddemannia striata!

Description:

The candidate has 24 flowers and 4 buds on one 26-cm inflorescence plus 2 emerging inflorescences (inflorescence length to the first flower is 9 cm). Plant is 60-cm wide by 76-cm tall. Plant has 4 bulbs with leaves and 4 leafless bulbs, leaves are 60-cm x 7-cm.

Flower Measurements:

NS H - 4.2 cm;                   NS V - 3.2 cm;

Dorsal Sep. W - 1.5 cm;    Dorsal Sep. L - 2.3 cm;

Petal W - 1.0 cm;               Petals L - 2.3 cm;

Lat/Sepal W - 1.7 cm;       Lat/Sepal L - 2.7 cm;

Lip/Pouch W - 1.2 cm;     Lip/Pouch L - 2.0 cm.

Judges' Comments

Tom Mirenda (Accredited Judge, Hawaii Judging Center)

Lueddemannia is a stunning genus within the Stanhopeinae that is still rarely seen in collections. Seeing them presented in some South American shows, has always been impressive in both the pendant floral displays, with spirally arranged, amazing flower counts...and often very interesting and striking coloration.

Other Lueddemannia hybrids I've seen, including at the Guayaquil WOC were in my view, rather disappointing....having dull coloration, relatively small flower size and flower count considering the more impressive examples of the species I've seen. I suspect that breeders might share my disappointment. However, I am hopeful that really stunning results will be forthcoming if breeders continue experimenting with some of the other interesting genera in this group. Acineta has great lasting qualities, but usually bland coloration and a smaller flower count than Lueddemannia....and I don't see it adding too many good qualities to the mix here, other than vigor.

As to this hybrid specimen, I think it is significantly better than the ones I saw in Ecuador and is an encouraging result. It's certainly vigorous and floriferous. However, even with the linear spots, I find it a bit uninspiring, knowing how glorious the species can be.  Combining Acineta with Stanhopea for example, has been advantageous, as its incurving, lasting qualities and flower size and count have all been accentuated and improved upon by the combination. In this case, I'm less sure there has been much of an improvement, as YET, in the breeding line. 

This is still the best result I've seen using a Lueddemannia, so I could certainly award it. I think a high HCC is appropriate. But I could be persuaded to go higher if enthusiasm of the judges swayed me.  Also, it’s hard to know the 'wow factor' this plant might have just from the photos. In any case, I would look kindly on awarding this unusual grex.  It would also be instructive to see a group of these as they flower to determine if this is typical or an outlier. We don't want to fall in the trap of awarding an average one of these.

Tom Mirenda

Paul Wetter (Senior Judge, West Palm Beach Judging Center)

Thank you for submitting this lovely mix of Genus Lueddemannia and Acineta, members of the Zygos, Lycastes, Stanhopeas breeding group.

I am interested in learning more about this cross Acemannia Linear Spots (Acineta superba x Lueddemannia striata). The presentation is a beautiful, well-presented plant with full flowers with some cupping but a rich color and spotted pattern. Bringing color, form and pattern from both parents. I would think it could qualify for a high HCC, low to mid AM.

Paul Wetter

Deb Jenson (Student Judge, Chicago Judging Center)

This is an exciting orchid to judge. It took a bit of research to understand the parents better and form an opinion on whether this hybrid took the best characteristics of both parents. The Acineta superba coloring with the orange-yellow base color and burgundy spots is apparent in this cross, but the Lueddemannia striata neatly arranges the spots into linear paths on the sepals and petals, giving it a bold color contrast. The yellow coloring of the lip comes from the Lueddemannia, but the bold burgundy spotting coalescing basally is a trait from the Acineta and is quite attractive as it offsets the petals and sepals. The cupped form is seen in both parents but is more prominent in the Lueddemannia. Searching the web, I found this same hybrid that did exhibit less cupping of the sepals, which makes me believe this orchid will develop a better form as it matures. Nonetheless, this is a lovely orchid, and I commend the grower on achieving this extraordinary blooming. I recommend awarding a JC to get this on record, and I look forward to seeing more of these in the future.

Kris Mason (Accredited Judge, Cincinnati Judging Center)

What an interesting intergeneric cross.  I like the soft yellow color with the contrasting spots.  Flowers somewhat cupped.  I like the display on the inflorescence.  Maybe a little crowded, but a nice compromise between the open display of the Lueddemannia striata which is very open and the Acineta superba with is crowded.  Compared to other clones of this corss I could find, ours is much more cupped, but better displayed.  Unfortunately, I feel like the cupping when compared to other clones is too much to award.  But what a wonderful interesting cross.

Al Messina (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

Twenty eight flowers and buds, one fungus gnat, plus two immature inflorescences on a well grown plant; appears to be a new direction in breeding with superior offspring; should qualify for Award of Distinction and flower quality award, probably AM.

Judie Armstrong (Associate Judge, Florida North-Central Judging Center)

I think this is a very nice and unusual cross.  The spotting on the flowers is very nicely arranged.  The flowers are smaller than the awarded parent Acineta superba.  This is probably due to the Lueddemannia striata parent.  I would be willing to score this flower.  I would probably put it in a high HCC range to low AM.

Jay Balchan (Immediate Past AOS President; Student Judge, Alamo Judging Center)

What a fantastic cross.  This seems to bring out the best in both parents and enhance the qualities of the flowers relative to each of the species used.  To me the linear spotting that can be seen on the petals and dorsals is especially attractive contrasted to the back of the flowers which shows random spotting.  The base light golden color of the flowers offset with the light magenta spotting is outstanding.  The only drawback to me is that it looks like in another week or so that a whole new flower spike will be opening right in the middle of the existing spike! 

The owner took a lot of care to cut the plastic mesh pot to be sure the flower stalks would not get caught up in it.  They are going to have to repot after the flowers are gone for sure! 

Steve González-Costa (Accredited Judge, Chicago Judging Center)

When compared to the recent, just in case, I did check that Lueddemannia striata is accepted (not that I don’t have trust) but I always like to check for myself and look at the other few species in this genera.  The flower count which is incredible and the fullness of the racime is very good and the drop in size must come from the Lueddemannia striata, but instead of 12-15 flowers that the Acineta typically has you have 24 + 4 buds which is quite an upgrade.  The Lueddemannia striata must also be to blame for the balanced symmetry of the individual flowers.  To me this is a real benefit for the hybrid from some of the strange wide shapes and triangular sepal forms of some of the awarded Acineta superba flowers.  This one has cool colors and patterns and also doesn’t have the ‘too open’ spacing some of these hybrids show as I search the net.  The lip color is better and I think that this particular plant has much more potential when the bulbs get huge and it really turns into a great majestic plant.  Unfortunately, the petals really fall forward on the flower where they could have ‘inherited’ a little more open stance from the Lueddemannia striata.  For now, I scored it a 77 HCC and I think that this could be an easy upgrade and a cultural award when it gets big and stronger and blooms more profusely.

Inna Kvitnitsky (Orchid grower, North Jersey and Deep Cut Orchid Societies, NJ)

This is a nice cross where stripes from Lueddemannia striata combined with spots from Acineta superba create dotted lines across petals with no interruption / gaps. The combined colors, more brownish from superba, and pale beige/yellow hue from Lueddemannia, produced a very warm shade of peachy orange that reminds me of autumn foliage under the sun.  Very pleasing is the lip color, and also the contrast between the lip and the petals. The spike is full of flowers located close to each other but not crowded. Overall, it's a lovely display of a well bloomed plant, with evidence of genetics from both parents. As an orchid hobbyist, I would love to add this plant to my collection, and believe it should be recognized. 

Exhibitor - Anne Skalka, Central Jersey Orchid Society, NJ

Virtual Award Description

Twenty-four full, slightly cupped flowers and four buds well-arranged on one 26-cm pendant inflorescence plus two emerging inflorescences; sepals and petals beige, mahogany spotted into linear paths, giving it a bold color contrast; lip beige, boldly spotted mahogany; column and anther cap golden yellow; substance hard; texture waxy; commended for excellent presentation, attractive colors and patterns and overall improvement over both parents.

Grower's Advice

I grow them very wet, watering them daily in net pots.  Hight light.  I have several of them and they're all growing this way.  I've had this one for about 3 years.  Most of them bloom yearly.  One thing I've learned is to not touch the buds.  They can blast easily.