Well of course there is nothing in nature that is truly black. The Paphiopedilum Hybrids that have wardii and a vini color (with the vini genes expressed) have almost flat black appearing petals. I do agree that the Fredclarkeara's come closest to anything I have seen.

Well it will be next year before my Fredclarkeara will be ready. can't wait :duh:

Here is a copy of an email I had with Fred Clark a few months ago regarding the sale of Freclarkera After Dark.

"After 4 years of trying to re-make of Fredclarkeara After Dark we have success! There are enough flasks to offer for sale. This is a limited offering and they will sell quickly. To give you and idea of the quality of this hybrid here are the awards to date:

Fdk. After Dark ‘Juliana Marie’ FCC/AOS
Fdk. After Dark ‘Black is Black’ AM/AOS
Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Black Pearl’ FCC/AOS, CCE/AOS
Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Big Spotty’ AM/AOS
Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Black Diamond’ FCC/AOS
The grex of Fdk. After Dark receives and Award of Distinction (AD/AOS)
Fdk. After Dark ‘SVO Black Cherry’ FCC/AOS, CCE/AOS
Fdk. After Dark ‘Ursa Spots’ AM/AOS

The original cross only produced 40 – 50 plants and as you can see by the awards the average flower quality was very high. Black flower color has been sought after for many years and this hybrid is a real break through in several ways:

· Amazing color from black, oxblood red, to green with maroon spotting, and one which was solid green
· Long flower life, 5-7 weeks is typical, these are unusually long lived Catasetinae flowers!
· Robust growing plants that bloom with 2-4 inflorescences per bulb on mature plants
· Excellent flower shape and arrangement

All the Fdk. After Dark plants of the original cross have now flowered and I estimate that 20% of the cross produced black flowers. This is a rather high average considering the elusive nature of the black flower color.

I am beginning the final replate process and will be taking pre-orders for flasks until December 2007, no deposit is required. It usually takes 6-10 months before the flasks are ready to ship. The flasks have 25 plants and are offered at $250 each plus shipping.

For those not interested in flasks I will have seedlings from the remake available in about 24 months.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Fred Clarke
Sunset Valley Orchids
(760) 639-6255
fred.clarke@worldnet.att.net
www.sunsetvalleyorchids.com"

It may not be "true black" but:
Sunset Valley Orchids - Grower and hybridizer of quality orchids, Vista CA

I also occasionally come across very dark colmanara (I have a colmanara massai 'red' that is extremely dark).

Don't know if this would be considered black enough for ya but maxillaria tenufolia X varibilis is pretty dark atleast. More a maroon with black in the throat! Mine just cam into bloom the other day so here's a pic
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...8_02090078.JPG

Nice looking plant u have there!!

Dunno if you're still looking for black orchids, but I did happen to get an email from Fred the other day - he will be offering some crosses the After Dark as a parent soon.

My maxalliara schunkeana has really dark purple it looks almost black.

i like to add another spp - Arachnis floasaeris gracilis aka black scorpion.you can find pic on flickr. I'm one of those proud owner-yet to flower though:)

SO, I met Fred Clarke tonight at the Tucson Orchid Society and he had some freclarklaria for sale. He is the only person credited with actually "creating" a black orchid. He showed some pictures.... stunning. it does look to be truly black because there were no red hues at all at the pictures he showed us that were taken in bright light.