Is this a Black Orchid?

[chulaorchids]

I think Freds plant is a very complex hybrid with Catasetum tenebrosa in the back ground maybe on both sides. Fred has an uncanny knack for hybridizing.

Looks black to me too, I was told it's really a dark dark purple? Hey, if it looks like chocolate and tastes like chocolate,,,,, LOL.

[dawnv]

It looked black to me too! ...and as a sculptor, I'm pretty happy with that too.

Thanks

[Frdemetr]

Well, the hybrid seems 'very black' to me to; but amongst natural species the 'blackish' one I saw is the brazilian Maxillaria schunkeana. In fact the color is very very dark red: http://www.dalholl.hpg.ig.com.br/gen...chunkeana.html
PS: unfortunately the pic & pant aren't mine!

[dawnv]

Well since we are splitting hairs here, it's actually a deep deep "reddish" color (both of them) but to the Orchid world...because it has such deep black tones...they may categorize this as black which in the art world is un heard of but to me, it has the features of a Cymbidium and if I sculpted this orchid out of silver and blacken the piece...it's a black orchid...if you say it's a black orchid.

[chulaorchids]

This may be of interest,,,,
In the background of FredClarkara are five different genus. When you are the first person to combine those five genus together in a new hybrid, you get to name it anything you want. Anyone else after that must start the name of their hybrid with the same five genus with FredClarkara and then the new name they created.

I had another friend Stella Mizuta in Hawaii who did the same, totally different plants, and she created the new identification of Stellamizutara. Talking to her one time I asked, "What, no middle name?" One of those days I was tired of writing out about 50 labels with her name to start every tag, lol.

[chulaorchids]

Hi Dawn,

Your work is incredible!!

Are you going to do the species Enc. cochleata or the complex hybrid? The species is pretty common, very prolific in Mexico, Belieze, Guatemala and neighboring countries.

Can you make the Enc. so that it is green and black like the actual flower when sculpting?

Fred's hybrid would be much more difficult for anyone but Fred Clark to make. Even if you used plants of the same name you would not get the same results. Fred has gleaned thru many previous plants of his own crosses to pick out the darkest of the dark and combine them, and at least one of them came out extremely dark. It would be a sculpture of something much rarer.

[dawnv]

Can you make the Enc. so that it is green and black like the actual flower when sculpting?

Yes, I can using enamels...but I had previously seen a "black" orchid when searching and it surprised me when I found the Enc. cochleata and it had green on it.

I can sculpt the Fred Clark relatively easily but I have a new process I was anxious to use which creates a reddish black finish on silver.

[shakkai]

Dawn, there is a hybrid of the cockleshell orchid crossed with Cattleya bowringiana - it is called Miva Etoile Noir

I have a named clone of this named 'Black Comet' which hasn't flowered for me yet, but the buds are forming! However, here is a link to someone else's photo of this one.

I think this is probably more purple-ish black than reddish-black, but if you wanted to use the shape you initially posted, it does actually come quite dark in this hybrid. Hopefully, in a couple of months, I'll have my own photos to share!

[dawnv]

This is the closest I've seen to the one I saw briefly several years ago. It was deep purplish black but it had the features of a Cattleya. It was beautiful! When your "black comet" blooms could you please send a photo or two to me.

Thank you for showing me that photo!!!

[shakkai]

Dawn, you'll certainly be seeing photos of that one - I can't wait to see the flowers myself.