Paphiopedilum Fanaticum (malipoense x micranthum)
I've wanted this hybrid for awhile. I just love the earthy tones, and the veining on the petals of Fanaticum. Also, I love knowing that these two species, malipoense and micranthum, naturally hybridize in nature.
Last summer I noticed that the market was getting flooded a bit with some really amazing paph hybrids, Fanaticum being one, and as a result, the prices started dropping. It got to the point where I said to myself, I'm never going to find this hybrid in bud again for this price.
So, here I am, showing it off. The leaves are very dark with a blueish cast. Really surprisingly distinct from Norito Hasegawa. The spike is sooooo tall. I can't even keep the plant under lights right now. The stem is quite strong, although I staked it to protect against my clumsiness, were I more nimble, I wouldn't have even bothered. The spike and bloom took months to develop, much like malipoense (which I also have in bud).
The bud first opened up as a much smaller flower. Then over the course of a couple days it ballooned out and expanded quite nicely. Now it's a nice big flower. The shape is a bit wonky and it doesn't look like it's quite fully open, but I suspect these minor issues will improve in future blooms when the plant is more mature. I had hoped for some fragrance, but what's there is so barely detectable that I can't even guarantee it's not my mind playing tricks on me. I also really prefer the clones with a dark staminode, so I didn't quite get that, but overall, I like this plant.
The lip kind of looks like a hungover fairy flew over to her toilet bowl and proceeded to splash the entire rim with pink fairy vomit or worse.
Paphiopedilum Fanaticum
Linear Mode
