Second candidate for this month is a Rhyncholaeliocattleya Melencia de los Santos (Rhyncholaeliocattleya Ramon de los Santos x Cattleya Circle of Life). 

Rhyncholaeliocattleya Melencia de los Santos was originated by Fred Clarke and registered by Ramon de los Santos in 2024. Although this cross has many Cattleya species in the background, major species are C. coccinea - 41.6%, C. trianae - 14.26% and C. pumila - 12.5%.

Previous Awards:

There are no AOS award for this new cross

There are two AOS award for Rhyncholaeliocattleya Ramon de los Santos.

There are 20 AOS award for Cattleya Circle of Life.

Description:

The candidate has 2 flowers on one 11-cm unstacked inflorescence. Plant is 19-cm wide and 12-cm tall.

Flower Measurements:

NS H - 8.4 cm;                   NS V - 8.3 cm;

Dorsal Sep. W - 2.3 cm;    Dorsal Sep. L - 4.9 cm;

Petal W - 3.6 cm;               Petals L - 4.9 cm;

Lat/Sepal W - 2.1 cm;       Lat/Sepal L - 4.5 cm;

Lip/Pouch W - 2.5 cm;     Lip/Pouch L - 4.0 cm.

Judges' Comments

Al Messina (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

Two nicely colored, well held flowers on one inflorescence originated by prolific Fred Clarke (SVO) as indicated by the label plainly displayed, likely first bloom seedling. A great pot plant at this stage: Large flowers, small plant.

Not yet ready for prime time. Could/should improve with age.

Ed Weber (Accredited Judge, Mid-Atlantic Judging Center)

Color is excellent but the form is a step down from what I would expect from Circle of Life. Petals too ruffled. The beautiful lip form on the 'Melancia' clone of Ramon de los Santos is gone from this plant giving it a pinched appearance reminiscent of C. coccinea. Before I even get to the size and measurements, I've concluded that I would not nominate this flower.

Ed Weber
Mid-Atlantic, Accredited.

Kris Mason (Accredited Judge, Cincinnati Judging Center)

Two beautifully colored flowers on a young plant; has nice potential; both parents have large, very full flowers with excellent color and form; these flowers are smaller than expected, especially in the petals and does not have as good of form on this flowering as either parent; it has good potential, but is a young plant and may improve as it grows up.  I would pass on this flowering.

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

Thank you for submitting this striking hybrid, Rlc. Melencia de los Santos. This is a very nice hybrid with rich color as to be expected. I think the form could be better, that is fuller and rounder based on the strength of that feature in C. Circle of Life.  There also may be a small color break on the dorsal sepal of one of the flowers which could decrease scoring. I would like to see this again in subsequent blooming.

Best Regards

Paul Wetter

Emily Quinn (Accredited Judge, Dallas Judging Center)

When you have two very round parents, whose petals are very round, then it is hard to be happy with a progeny whose petals are not round. Color is nice. Metrics are acceptable. But the form is not a match or an improvement to the parents. I would pass.

Emily Quinn

Deb Jenson (Student Judge, Chicago Judging Center)

I appreciate this hybrid's blend of coloring from both parents, resulting in a raspberry color with beautiful veining. The lip has lovely yellow striations in the throat. The form is relatively flat, with ruffling on the petals. However, I would struggle to nominate this for a quality award. The color is a bit washed out; I would like to see a richer red, as demonstrated by the parent Rhynholaeliocattleya Ramon de los Santos. I also have a few issues with the form; the ruffling on the left petal is not symmetrical with the right. Also, the petals are not as full as both parents. I would pass on nominating. 

Monica DeWit (Accredited Judge, Western Canada Judging Center)

What lovely large flowers this small plant has produced.  I'll bet it glows in natural light. The side view is wonderfully flat. I would like to see more rounded petals.  I really like that the flowers are self supporting.  I would probably start this clone of this grex at an HCC.  More flowers would be amazing!

Many thanks,

Monica De Wit 

WCJC 

Bob Winkley (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

Thank you for sending along this candidate. It appears to be a fairly young plant, but the flower color is good, the lip full and well-formed, and the inflorescence self-supporting, which is not always the case when C. coccinea is heavily represented.

When I look at this plant I see a candidate that falls into a well established award concept and history, regardless of the actual cross involved. C. coccinea hybrids have very clear standards:

• Full, flat form with little or no reflexing/recurving of the segments

• Large, round petals that are often as wide as they are long and which fill in the space between the dorsal and lateral sepals

• A broader, fuller lip than C. coccinea

• Deep, vibrant color in all segments

• Texture which is crystalline, velvet, or sateen

• An inflorescence which is erect or at least self-supporting, in contrast to the somewhat lax C. coccinea inflorescence habit

In addition, we are looking for two or more flowers on the inflorescence unless the other parent is also single-flowered.

As mentioned in my first remark, the candidate plant meets a number of these criteria. Where it falls short, in my opinion, is primarily in the petals. They are much longer than they are wide, the apices recurve, and they are held in such a way that they don't fill in the circle. The latter is accentuated but the slight recurving of the upper margin of the left petal and the margins of the dorsal sepal. While not a 'fatal flaw', I don't see these as an improvement over parents or type so would not be inclined to nominate the plant on this flowering. If nominated, I would likely abstain if the majority of judges seem inclined to award.

One additional observation - the true evaluation of the flower's color and texture is hampered by the shadows found in many of the photos and much of the video. Based on these photos, I would say that the color is some shade of cerise and the texture matte but that may not be the case. Better lighting might have helped the candidate in these two areas. 

All the best - 

Bob W.

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

This is a perfect pot plant to bring in the house and have on your window sill or a coffee table.  It looks very vigorous, has a bright almost florescent color and a large flower for the size of the plant.  From a pure judging point of view, the shape is not quite round enough for me to score it especially given the Circle of Life parent with its overlapping petals and really round shape.  The size fits right in between the two parents. 

Elena Skoropad (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

Great color, good size - this cross has a potential. However, I’d like to see a better form and shape and perhaps substance. It’s difficult to assess substance and texture from the photograph. This is a very young plant, it appears to be a first bloom. The plant should get stronger and form could improve on the next bloom. I would not nominate this plant for a flower quality award just yet. This is definitely a keeper. The grower picked very interesting cross and did a good job growing it.

Thank you,

Elena

Ramon de los Santos (Accredited Judge, California-Sierra Nevada Judging Center)

The flowers are quite flat and has good color. The flowers are held well on a good stem. Good enough for a first bloomer. With that said, both parents have very full form , the flower is not as full as one expects from cross. The lip is a little narrow, I would like it to be a little wider, the sepals are nice and wide. The size of the flower is acceptable. I on the cusps on this as to pass and bring on a stronger plant or the passing HCC score. 

Regards,

Ramon

Exhibitor - Olga and Alex Sinitsky, NJ

Grower's Advice

I bought this orchid in June, when Fred Clarke gave his talk at North Jersey Orchid Society. This plant from Sunset Valley Orchids. After a few months, the orchid bloomed. I have it sitting on the windowsill, the window faces west. The plant is reared without artificial lighting. Humidity in my home is very low. I water on average once a week.