Candidate for this month is a Rhynchobrassoleya Aka's Art (Rhyncholaeliocattleya Regal Red x Brassocattleya Maile Hollinger). 

Rhynchobrassoleya Aka's Art was originated and registered by A. Buckman in 2020. Rhyncholaeliocattleya Regal Red is the cross between Rlc. Regal Pokai and Rlc. Sally Taylor. Second parent, Brassocattleya Maile Hollinger is the cross between Brassocattleya Richard Mueller and Cattleya Angelwalker.

Previous Awards:

There are no AOS awards for this cross.

There are two AOS award for Rhyncholaeliocattleya Regal Red for the same cultivar 'Paradise'.

There is one AOS award for Brassocattleya Maile Hollinger.

Description:

The candidate has 3 flowers on one 26-cm unstacked inflorescence. Plant grown in 15-cm terracotta pot in bark mix.

Flower Measurements:

NS H - 11.3 cm;                   NS V - 11.8 cm;

Dorsal Sep. W - 2.5 cm;    Dorsal Sep. L - 6.8 cm;

Petal W - 4.5 cm;               Petals L - 5.8 cm;

Lat/Sepal W - 2.4 cm;       Lat/Sepal L - 5.5 cm;

Lip/Pouch W - 4.2 cm;     Lip/Pouch L - 5.0 cm.

Judges' Comments

Jay Balchan (Student Judge, Alamo Judging Center)

Another very fun cross to explore!  It is interesting to see what happened when a standard red catt was crossed with a light lavender nodosa influenced partner.  This is a great windowsill plant for an inside grower.  The arrangement of flowers is really showstopping.

From a judging point of view, the color is outstanding and would score color highly if I were scoring it. I really like the contrasts of orange between the petals and the sepals along with the subtle color gradation in the sepals.  The lip is a pleasing color contrast to the orange.

The shape is where this falls down for me.  I understand the nodosa influence, so it will be a bit more open than the Regal Red parent which is a beautifully shaped flower. But the petals are not balanced and too unevenly wavy.  The dorsal sepal is recurved back and the laterals are recurved forward.  And from the top picture and side views, we can see that the petals are held forward so the overall flower is not close to flat.  The lip is not outstanding.  Shape would be a low score for me.

The inflorescence and arrangement are great and that would score highly.

I assume all other score able areas to be average.

If I were to point this, at most it would be a low HCC, but not sure my scorecard would get that high. Seeing it is person and in the sun might get it an extra couple of points. 

A future blooming where the shape is improved would be a game changer. 

Kris Mason (Accredited Judge, Cincinnati Judging Center)

Thank you for sharing this lovely flower.  I like the display on the inflorescence, well spaced and above the leaves; the compactness of the plant is a bonus; floriferousness is a little ow; size is below the geometric mean both in terms of natural spread and individual parts; I like the shape, presentation and color of the dorsal sepal, but the texture is distracting, lateral sepals are slightly cupped; color of petals is pleasing and the yellow base adds interest and helps to harmonize the parts, the over all effect of the ruffling is pleasing ands the sparkling texture of the petals is really nice; In some ways the contrast of the lip adds interest, but I'm not sure if it integrates and fully harmonizes with the rest of the flower, some inconsistencies with lip shape is a little distracting; I feel like I'm on the edge of where a quality award would be; giving it the benefit, I think I would reluctantly pass but decided I was close enough to point it, I scores at 73 so should be near a low HCC.

Al Messina (Accredited Judge, Northeast Judging Center)

This delightful plant might lack regal parentage but displays qualities which are commercially desirable for pot plants: Compact clean foliage with large, well-arranged, colorful blooms held, unstaked, above the foliage.

While I would not be moved to nomination, should it be nominated, it might be scored a marginal to mid HCC.

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

This flower has a very striking color, that is taking after the Regal Red parent's color.  The flower is full, round and fairly flat.  The dorsal recurves slightly at the apex.  The flower gives the appearance of being slightly cupped but it could be the way it was photographed.  The petal margins are pleasingly undulating/ruffled.  The lip accents the flower color with its bright fuchsia.  It recurves on the left margin possibly due to the ruffling.  The size of the flower is in between the parents size.  It is larger that the Maile Hollinger parent but not as large as the Regal Red parent.  I would give this a quality award of a high HCC.      

Thank you,

Judie

Mike Arwari (Student Judge, Pacific South Judging Center)

This cultivar is slightly difficult to judge, (for a student judge) given that it is not previously awarded.

The measurements of this cultivar are smaller in comparison to its parents, which are both awarded. However, this does not take away from the overall quality of the flowers.

The plant has one upright inflorescence with 3 full, rounded flowers, brightly colored. The sepals are a light orange, while the petals are an orange/pink mix. The lip is a deep magenta. The substance look medium and the texture looks crystalline (?)

The flowers are slightly crowded, but are clearly visible when seen individually. This is a well cultivated plant.

I will give this cultivar an AM of 80

Mike Arwari

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

My first response was what a beautiful result from Art Buckman. Upon reviewing the parent pictures and awards, my response remains the same. The three flowers are well presented with outstanding color contrast.  The lips are extremely consistent in form contributing to the presentation. Given the parentage, the flowers presented are fuller and about what I would expect.

I would score this plant 84 -85 points.

Ronald Midgett

Sr. judge RMJC

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

Interesting color on the result, but seems typical for this cross.  Nice that it has 3 flowers on the inflorescence, but, does not seem to have superior count or significant geometric mean segment improvements over the parents.  The biggest contribution that could have come from Rlc. Regal Red might have been a round commanding lip, but the result is not as commanding in overall shape, size or form of the segments.  The awarded Bc. Maile Hollinger 'Aka's Best' HCC77 is an incredible example of a better pollen parent with extremely bright and pleasing coloration for a yellow.  Unfortunately, the form on this flowering and the coloring are not as ideal, size is OK, I usually weight this size factor in less, but for the other reasons I’ll pass for now on nominating and awarding.

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

Thank you for sending this candidate  Rby. Aka’s Art for evaluation.  It is a nice cross of Rlc. Regal Red a full form hybrid with good color and decent proportions. The other parent Bc. Maile Hollinger has nice color with a more stellate form.  Aka’s Art has the size expected from the geometric mean of its parents.  And an OK floriferousness. The form, is a blend of parents but could be better if there was more fullness inherited from Regal Red and other ancestors.  Color is very pleasing.  The candidate is well grown and presented.  I would expect it to be nominated and receive a High HCC or Low to mid AM with most points off for form and a decent scoring for color and other features. 

Deb Jenson (Student Judge, Chicago Judging Center)

This hybrid is certainly capturing some of the best features of both parents.

The color has been primarily inherited from Regal Red, with the yellow base infused with fuchsia, which appears more orange in the photos. It's interesting how this hybrid has more fuchsia on the petals, leaving the sepals with more of the yellow base found on the Maile Hollinger. I wish it had inherited the rich pigmentation of the lip on the Regal Red, particularly the richer yellow in the throat with the C. dowiana stripes. However, I do find the rose lip with the light-yellow throat attractive.

The form is good; it picked up the wider petals from Regal Red, giving it a fuller appearance, and the petal tips are not as recurved as seen on Regal Red. The sepals are cupped, making the overall flower appear cupped in the side view, with the dorsal sepal tip slightly recurved. Unfortunately, I do not find the lip to be as nicely formed as the broader lip of Regal Red; this is inherited from Maile Hollinger. The lip also has an open gap on top, which neither parent has.

I find this awardable and would score this as a high HCC or low AM.

Deb Jenson

Gene Crocker (Carter and Holmes Orchids)

Amazing substance you can see in the photo.  Where did the Richard Mueller go?  Definitely awardable considering the parentage. 

Maybe just an HCC.

Gene Crocker

Exhibitor - Bill Stender (Lehigh Valley and North Jersey Orchid Societies, PA)

Virtual Award Description

Three full, well-presented flowers on an erect 26-cm inflorescence in a 15-cm terracotta pot; sepals lanceolate, yellow, suffused orange; petals ovate, yellow, suffused fuchsia, margins slightly undulate; lip magenta, margins ruffled, open over column, throat light yellow; column and anther cap light yellow; substance firm; texture crystalline. 

Grower's Advice

For the Cattleya, I just repotted it this summer so I am surprised it bloomed so well this year. Cattleya mix in a terra cotta pot. It lives on the south side of the greenhouse with the other Catts.