New candidate for this month is Gongora aromatica.

Gongora aromatica, Rchb.f. 1854, is accepted species by WCSP, Kew. The native range of this species is Central America, Bolivia.

It is a pseudobulbous epiphyte and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Previous Awards:

There are 2 AOS awards for Gongora aromatica - HCC/AOS 76 pts from 2002 and and JC/AOS from 1991.

There is also one CCM award from 1965 without any information.

Description:

The candidate plant has 102 flowers and 19 buds on 3 pendant inflorescences (inflorescences length are: 94-cm, 91-cm and 67-cm) . The plant is 30-cm by 60-cm and grown in 13-cm clear plastic pot in bark sphagnum moss mix.

Flower Measurements:

NS H - 1.5 cm;                   NS V - 5.5 cm;

Dorsal Sep. W - 0.3 cm;    Dorsal Sep. L - 2.0 cm;

Petal W - 0.2 cm;               Petals L - 1.4 cm;

Lat/Sepal W - 0.8 cm;       Lat/Sepal L - 2.5 cm;

Lip/Pouch W - 0.7 cm;     Lip/Pouch L - 2.0 cm.

Judges' Comments

Franco Pupulin (Lankester Botanical Garden, Costa Rica; University of Costa Rica)

    I have not at hand an image of the type (that must be conserved in Wien), but Reichenbach's description of the epichile “caruncula basilari inferiori semiovata” or provided with “a semiovate fleshy extension on the underside of the base” well corresponds to the specimen you documented. Unfortunately, the photographs show not enough detail to see if this caruncula also is, according to the protocol,  “transverse gyroso sulcata, “transversely grooved with a ring”.

    Even with a less than perfect evidence at hand, I would confirm the identity of this plant as Gongora aromatica.

Franco.

Al Messina (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

When there is a significant disparity in flower count among inflorescences, you should state that and give the individual flower count of each individual inflorescence so that a judge might see how many flowers per inflorescence are possible. Also, OP has 1965 as date of the 87 point CCM with no other data. Orchid Wiz has likely correct date as 1960 with flower count of 80 on three infls; also a one sentence description: 'Large plant with large plump pseudobulbs'; 3 spikes with total of 80 flowers. Bill Wison's plant.1965 is a place-holding date in OP which means the award could have been awarded anytime after 1932 and prior to/up to 1965. So always take 1965 with a grain of salt.

A nicely grown, relatively small division of a progressively enlarging pseudobulbous plant in a genus noted for producing many inflorescences per individual plant. It's floriferousness should vault it on subsequent blooms to a cultural award.

Daria Souvorova (Student Judge, Houston Judging Center)

I wanted to congratulate our presenter on a very well flowered specimen of Gongora aromatica! It looks like all of the flowers on each inflorescence are intact, which can be difficult to achieve on these types of plants, especially as the weather shifts from summer to fall. The inflorescences are nicely formed, and flowers well spaced and presented neatly on those inflorescences. The size of the flowers is considerably larger than our two awards with details. In this instance, I would be happy to score highly on floriferousness, and presentation, and size if scored. There seems to be some variation in form and lateral sepal presentation between the flowers, presumably dependent on how long they have been open. 

While the floriferousness and flower natural spread of this specimen are commendable, I think the color is not nearly as impressive as previously awarded specimens, particularly the HCC that was awarded at our center in 2002 'Autre Vie'. If scored, this specimen would lose some considerable points in color on my scoresheet. 

I would consider an HCC to accommodate for the improvements in flower count, presentation, and flower size. 

I go back and forth with considering a cultural award for this plant. I would presume that we want a larger specimen to consider a CCM, but I have seen catasetinae and friends awarded with one or two inflorescences on small plants of late, so go figure. 

Cheers,

Daria 

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

Thank you for submitting this very nice specimen of Gongora aromatica.   

Based on the 3 previous awards and the presentation of this well grown specimen, I would nominate for a culture award, it’s been a while since the one CCM in 1960, So, some credit to the grower. The presented plant shows the potential for a floriferous well grown specimen. I would expect a score CCM 85. Very interested in input from others in the group about this very interesting presentation.

Best Regards

Paul Alan Wetter

Mike Arwari (Student Judge, Pacific South Judging Center)

This species was last awarded in February 2002 with HCC/AOS of 76 points.

The measurements of the flowers of candidate plant are smaller in comparison to the awarded plant. 

What is most striking about this plant is its floriferousness! It is a well flowered specimen with 102 flowers, 19 buds on 3 pendant inflorescences. 

The flowers are light cream color and evenly spread. On closer examination, the petals and sepals appear to be asymmetrical, with the lateral sepals being revolute.

Could it be that these flowers are older? I would love to see this plant in its flowering prime.

I would give this plant a CCM of 86 points.

Mike Arwari

Virginia Kristo (Student Judge, Pacific Central Judging Center)

Gongora aromatica

Very well grown plant.

In comparing this plant to a previous awarded plant with a score of 76.

This plant is more floriferous with 103 flowers on three inflorescences compared to 12 flowers on one inflorescence.
The form of the flower is very good.  The arrangement of the inflorescences is exquisite.  Although the measurements of the flower are not identical to the previous awarded flower, they are not out of range.  For example, for the natural spread the submitted plant has a slightly shorter width and a larger length compared to the previously awarded flower.
The overall color of the flower is not as striking as the previously awarded plant’s flower.  However, the yellow of the lip is bright and glossy where the yellow of the sepals and petals are softer.  The sepals and petals also have a thin texture and when placed in front of a black background can seem washed out.

The score and I give this plant is 83.

Ronald J. Midgett (Senior Judge, Rocky Mountain Judging Center)

After reviewing awards to this species and Gongora’s in general, these are my

comments. A CCM is not possible given that the awards I reviewed had well in access of 200 flowers.

A flower quality award based on flower size is certainly possible since it is about the size of the average of 11 recent awards to a variety of species. My major concern is the light yellow of the segments. Particularly when one of this species awarded an HCC is a nice orange. (I wondered if the orange one is indeed this species.)

I would give it an HCC of 75 points.

Ronald J. Midgett

Senior Judge RMJC

Ting Wang (Student Judge, National Capital Judging Center)

The candidate is a well-grown plant with immaculate leaves (as far as I can make out from the video), 3 evenly spaced inflorescences, and gives a impressive, balanced presentation. We do not have any information on the 1965 CCM, and neither the JC or the HCC offers whole-plant images. But given how well-flowered this candidate is (102 flowers and 19 buds on 3 inflorescences, versus 12F on 1; and 56F + 68B on 3), and the good condition these flowers are in, I would nominate it for a cultural award and probably will score it in the mid 80.

Flowers of the candidate are larger in almost all dimensions than either awarded plants. However, there seems to be quite a bit of variation in the degree of reflex of lateral sepals among flowers. Picture #3 and the video show some almost flat arrangements whereas most of flowers in the background have very reflexed sepals. Not sure if this is due to aging. I also noted the lateral sepals of the HCC flowers appear a bit fuller, even though the H/V ratios are similar on paper (1/2.8 vs. 0.8/2.5). Not sure why this is the case.

There is a significant difference in color. The JC flowers may have a similar overall pale-green base color (hard to tell from photo), but the HCC flowers are noticeably darker with intense orange-red spots/stripes, which is more pleasing in my opinion.

I would perhaps nominate this plant for a flower quality award, but would score it in the lower HCC range.

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

I am not familiar with this flower and compared it to flowers on orchidspecies.com and orchid roots.  I was concerned with the color not matching the previous HCC award and the flower on Orchidspecies.com but Orchid roots does show a flower that matches the candidate and one that matches the previous award.  I compared flower size and the candidate is overall larger vertically and the dorsal is vertically larger than the previous HCC award flower.  But the sepals, petals and lip are smaller.  The plant is well-grown and flowered.  I would give the flower a CHM (since the species has already received 3 awards) and is well-flowered with 3 inflorescences.  I would also send it to SITF for definitive identification.

Thank you,

Judie

Alejandro Capriles (Accredited Judge Società Felsinea di Orchidofilia, Bologna, Italy; Retired AOS Judge)

Gongora aromatica

Although this species has been in cultivation for decades, it seems hard to believe only 3 quality awards have been given to date. This specimen is well grown but Gongora aromatica is quite floriferous so I feel three stems is not enough to merit a cultural award. As far as shape in concerned, it appear to be well within the norm for the type and the dimensions are not extraordinary. Nor is the color - both previous awards with photographic records show much more intense shades of mahogany and carnelian in the petals and sepals, as well as a more intense pigmentation on the lips. However, I find the light champagne coloring throughout very appealing, as well as the subdued speckling throughout - almost entirely absent on the lip. Nevertheless, I would not consider this plant for an award at this time.

Thanks!

Alec.

Jimmy Tan (Student Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

With its stunning display of over 100 blooms on 3 inflorescences, I think this plant deserves a cultural award – potentially a CHM, although there isn’t a suitable comparison as there is no information on the plant with previously awarded CCM from 1965. If the clone ‘Autre Vie’ HCC/AOS with its one inflorescence and 12 flowers is perhaps indicative already of good culture, then the current candidate plant could be considered culturally superior. The ‘Evets’ clone with a total of 124 buds+flowers also with 3 inflorescences (vs. 121 buds+flowers of the candidate plant) was not recognized with a cultural award; however, it could be that this plant had more buds than flowers, and still had a developing third inflorescence when it was judged in 1991. As the candidate plant has a much paler color compared to the striking ‘Autre Vie’ with its striking spotted orange coloration, as well as when compared to the ‘Evets’ clone with the pleasingly contrasting burnt red sepals vs yellow petals and lips – I’m not sure if it’s suitable for a flower quality award.

Thanks,
Jimmy

Exhibitor - Joseph Thomas (Central Jersey and Lehigh Valley Orchid Societies,  NJ)

Virtual Award Description

One hundred two large, non-resupinate flowers and nine buds well presented on three pendent up to 50-cm inflorescences; sepals and petals pale yellow, blushed burgundy centrally; dorsal sepal lanceolate, slightly folded longitudinally; lateral sepals widely lanceolate, reflexed, margins recurved; petals minute, fused to column, incurved distally, apices acuminate; lip pale yellow, hypochile portrubances porrect, deeper yellow, mesochile antennae meet distally, epichile pointed; column curved, beaked apically, yellow, suffused burgundy centrally, anther cap yellow; substance moderate, lip hard; texture matte, lip waxy. 

Grower's Advice

This Gongora I grow outdoors together with Stanhopeas in summer under some trees. In winter on racks the face a southwest window. The racks also have barrina T8 full spectrum lights. The temperature in winter is normal room temp. during the day and since it is a spare room the heat is turned down and door closed for a temp drop. Water when needed with dilute fertilizer (1/4-1/8) with almost every watering. Using a fans for air circulation.