Black Orchid

[mrobert]

Originally Posted by addictedcountryman

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.

Too bad he can't bottle the smell...it's great.

[addictedcountryman]

i envy you what does it smell like?

[balogh]

Originally Posted by jonnygreenthumb

OK I know as of right know there has not been such a discovery . I am looking for the next best thing anyone got some names and were I can get orchids that are considered black?

i just came back from the Mid-America conference and bought a "black" catasetum from Frank Clarke called Fdk After Dark, SVO Black Pearl FCC/AOS. It is an intergeneric hybrid.

[Amanda L]

I just did a google search on black orchids and saw Fredclarkeara After Dark 'Feuerbach' now I want one. THANKS! HeHeHe.

[orchideric]

For the record, there are no black orchids - just extremely dark pigmented ones. Black is an animal pigment and does not occur in plants. The orchid that usually wins for black is Coelogyne pandurata with truly black appearing marks on the lip. It is also a spectacular plant to grow.

Hope that helps, Eric

[Amanda L]

I know there is no such thing as a truly black orchid, but the Fredclarkeara After Dark 'Feuerbach' is the closest I have seen. It's fantastic!

[David Morris]

Hum, I seem to recall from physics that Black does not occur in nature (it is only a concept). That if you apply enough light to any pigment that you think is black with enough magnification you would end up with the color. I am sure there is someone out there who has studied physics longer than I have who can answer that question. Anyway any "Black Orchid" can be anything that has pigment that appears black to the naked eye. The Nero Wolfe Black orchid does not seem to indicate what kind of a orchid it is, but the Fredclarkeara is I think more amazing than that mythical description.

[Sandy4453]

Sunset Valley Orchids - Grower and hybridizer of quality orchids, Vista CA

[CoolPhrog]

Originally Posted by bodaciousbonsai

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

Where did you get yours?

[BotanicaExotica]

Monnierara Millennium Magic "Witchcraft" FCC/AOS is pretty commonly cultivated and is a dark plum nearly black color and is easy to grow. Paph. anitum is very difficult to find and is very expensive when found is also nearly black in the dorsal sepal. Anitum is a pretty fussy guy also.