spicerianum update

[tizzycat]

my paph. spicerianum var. giganteum is in flower. My first ever paph. to flower. Well worth the wait. I really don't know what difference the var. giganteum makes.

[exasperatus2002]

Congratulations!

[LauraGR]

Beautiful! And darned good picture as well!

[NancyG]

very nice, great flower

NancyG

[mayres]

Excellent! How large is the flower across? Ours were about 3.5-4 cm. (1.5 inches) across. Without seeing the two side by side I'm guessing a little browner perhaps? Regardless - good job and nice photo. Thanks for sharing! I have a slightly different version that is spiking right now as well and will post in a few weeks - spike is currently about half up.

[jim blanford]

WOW!!! That is great looking, the difference may be in the color of the pouch, here's what mine looks like. Jim.

[butt0n]

Very beautiful...after looking at everyone's pictures, I'm more inclined to get this one. Awesome species!

[myorchid]

Me too! Beautiful Paphs!

[PhalPal]

Beautiful Tizzy!!!! Congratulations!!

[rodbender]

Great Job!!!! Congrats on the bloom!!!!!

[Ron]

Hi Chris.
Nice flower, I was told the difference is suppose to be in size.
Mine flowered earlier in the year but different times from the normal.
So really could not see the difference.
The Photo below is of mine flowering the first time from flask.
I just love them all!

Cheerio and best wished for xmas.
Ron

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by tizzycat

my paph. spicerianum var. giganteum ... I really don't know what difference the var. giganteum makes.

The name "giganteum" means "large." It comes from the same root that gives us the English words "gigantic" and "giant." I'm not sure of the legitimacy of this varietal name though. I found a couple of instances where Pfitzer's Reichenbach's initials (Pfitz. and Rchb.f) appeared after the name but without a year. I've never been able to find a published, taxonomical description bearing that varietal name so I suspect it is not a valid varietal name at all, perhaps just a horticultural variety in which case it should not be expressed as a varietal name.

At any rate, the defining difference is the size. Giganteum is bigger in both flower and plant size.

[Ron]

Hi Kevin.
As usual, you are on the ball; again, I use the common mistake of calling it Var.
According to Braem & Chiron in their publication "Paphiopedilum,” it is not listed.
But they said there is about 20 variants are published but about 11 of them without any illustration or description.
Only one, the true albino described as forma immaculatum
I suppose, as this is not a scientific site, one get a bit lazy in looking up the names proper and just write what is written on the labels by the nurseries. (They are the lazy ones).
Best of luck.
Cheerio
Ron