oncidium praetextum

[u bada]

This is a brazillian oncidium related to oncidium crispum, and basically there's a bunch of them that look similar but are given different names.

Anyway, picked up at a show the other month in spike so can't give credit to flowering it but i suppose i actually liked it more because of the growth habit (not pictured, should have before i started writing this), which are cute round pbs and leaves creeping up the mount. Also it supposedly can handle the variable temperatures and humidity here in LA outside.

So it opened and well it's really brown. While I appreciate white flowers and green flowers very much, the question of such brown flowers now when confronted with them in person is a bit perplexing...

so what are your thoughts? keeper? or trade off? I've asked around already for thoughts and people are giving me mixed comments...

I will say this, in person it has this delicate yet structured texture to it that is both glossy and papery and intriguing...

oncidium praetextum by u u, on Flickr

I attached other images of flower in natural sunlight with different backgrounds to give you other perspectives of flower...

[isurus79]

I think these are beautiful! What are the plant dimensions? How tall is the spike?

I might be interested in trading for this...

FYI- The name is actually Gomesa praetextum: Gomesa praetexta (Rchb.f.) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams

[DeaC]

I'd pick this over white or green blooms and appreciate it not being the usual yellow Onc.(Gomesa).And such a difference in natural light! That "nosey" projection is the icing on the cake!

[u bada]

thank you guys for such good comments from esteemed orchidists!

it's not a big plant, the pbs are maybe 1" wide, and the leaves, maybe 4" long, the flower stems are probably a foot high... I'll try to get a picture of whole plant later if i have a moment...

but yes, there are many flowers you just can't capture their unique qualities by camera, and this one definitely changes in different lighting and backgrounds... pretty interesting.

[Pattywack]

It's beautiful and so unique in color. I agree, definitely would pick this over white or yellow. Hope to see pictures of your plant.

[Leafmite]

I am not a big fan of brown, either, I confess. :|
Is it fragrant? If it was wonderfully fragrant and you have plenty of space, why not? If space is limited and you are really not fond of it, a trade for something you like better might be a good idea.

[u bada]

Well the consensus has been pretty much there are people that like it and people that don't. Mind you, most of the flowers on the plants i grow few people would like anyway immediately anyway so why I even ask is beyond me :P... or well really it's for a discussion on aesthetics i guess... how such a burnt sienna kind of brown fits into people's idea of a beautiful flower...

So here's the full plant shot, really couldn't put too much effort into it, but with it are various mounties, hopefully you can tell which one it is... it's not a big plant but it's grown beautifully on its mount

[Pattywack]

It's gorgeous, a keeper for sure!

[No-Pro-mwa]

I can't decide how much I like it either. It is kind of cool looking but I would have to say I might find out what Steve might have to trade for it. It might be something you like even better. It certainly isn't ugly.

[u bada]

awww, poor grl hurting her feelings! Well like i said much of my collection are certainly not for everyone so considering that, it's not a surprise that it ended up with me haha...

it's like one of our dogs, she only has 3 legs, adopted because no one else would want her, so of course she has a good home with us... awwww (although she acts like everyone wants her lol she's the same brown color come to think of it lol)