Hookerae ‘Icarus Wings’

[DrLeslieEe]

It looks like hookerae season is upon us. Everyone seems to have one in spike or in buds. Exciting!

My hookerae was in bud for a long time since February ... 6 weeks? The bud kept growing higher and higher towards the light bulb until it almost touched it. I had to move it away in case it got burnt.

It finally opened couple days ago and it stretched his wings (petals) quite widely. They were so long and wide I aptly named him ‘Icarus Wings’ after the boy flew too close to the sun.

NS 11 cm, warm nights all year (19-21C) and medium low light (one LED bulb), heavy RO water all year, maybe slightly less (if anything, one day later) in winter. Feed every 2-3 watering with MSU/kelp alternate foliar spray, MgCal few times a year. Bark/perlite/charcoal mix.

 

[SlipperKing]

Damn! That's GREEN!

Does the plant itself have a maroon pattern to the underside of the leaves? 2 of mine do the 3rd does not.

 

[Don I]

Neat.
Don

 

[dodidoki]

Pouch is a little strange to me but petals are first class, wide, staight with great coloration.

 

[GuRu]

Indeed those petals spread widely and the green is striking, very intense. Altogether a lovely hookerae, congrats.

 

[Ozpaph]

thanks for the cultural tips

 

[Guldal]

He is a very nice guy...almost looking like var. volonteanum! Congrats on that beautifull flowering!

Kind regards and envy,
Jens

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Damn! That's GREEN!

Does the plant itself have a maroon pattern to the underside of the leaves? 2 of mine do the 3rd does not.

There is a little bit of maroon brushing as pic below. Also it’s the same parent cross as yours too SK... so it will be interesting to compare!

 

[DrLeslieEe]

I took the liberty to take more pics today under different lighting. Gives a different kind of feel each time.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Pouch is a little strange to me but petals are first class, wide, staight with great coloration.

The pouch is off a bit to the flower left and not centered. Kinda similar to the sangii pouch in webbing. Yes the colours are pretty amazing.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Thanks all for the encouragement for this nice flower. It’s always a great surprise when a good coloured flower with a good shape serendipitously appear after flowering a few bad ones in the past.

 

[Guldal]

That infloresence... It's amazing... And then they say size doesn't matter

 

[DrLeslieEe]

That infloresence... It's amazing... And then they say size doesn't matter

It's 50 cm high that infloresence. Crazy!

As for whether it is a volonteanum or hookerae, the verdict is out there. What is everyone's thoughts?

Note the staminode is notched on top and bottom (as would a hookerae) but the blushed maroon underside of leaves and deep flower colors are also present (as a volonteanum would).

 

[gego]

Very nice form and color.

 

[SlipperKing]

Yes, it will be interesting to see what mine reveals. Mine are only about 30cm so I have some waiting. The all green plant is really behind at 1cm!

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Yes, it will be interesting to see what mine reveals. Mine are only about 30cm so I have some waiting. The all green plant is really behind at 1cm!

It's a race between the two, while the wee one takes it's own sweet time

 

[Guldal]

As for whether it is a volonteanum or hookerae, the verdict is out there.

This could cause a little distress or a minor crisis in the camp of the 'spreaders' - whilst the 'lumpers' would remain fairly calm...after all, what is volonteanum to them, but a variety of hookerae!

 

[Rockbend]

I took the liberty to take more pics today under different lighting. Gives a different kind of feel each time.
View attachment 19593

Gorgeous hookerae!!

Again, if you use black fabric as a background, black velvet or even a black t-shirt, you won't get the glare in the background.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-mxkHRj5/0/6b054714/O/i-mxkHRj5.jpg

 

[richgarrison]

wonder if the two parents were both (true) hookerae? ;-)

either way would love having that on my bench to look at... wonderful... i have one just starting to show color from Sam... hoping it's a keeper

 

[BrucherT]

I have a volonteanum with a bud that I’m starting to worry about. I thought it would be open weeks ago. Still looks fat and green but no changes in awhile. Did you do anything condition wise to get it to open? I could really use a flower right now.