Paph. Mean Bob

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SlipperFan

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Prime Child x sanderianum -- I'd like to know the reason for this strange name!

Paph_MeanBob.jpg
 
I love the stripes on the dorsal in contrast to the spotting on the petals! :clap:
 
I checked with the RHS registry. Paph. Mean Bob was registered on 04/09/2008 by B. Thoms. That's all I could find out. FYI.

I tried searching on Google but only found lots of hits on Bob & Lynn Wellenstein and their Paphiopedilums. Somehow, I don't think that's it.
 
Doesn't look mean to me - has more of a 'I'm flexing my muscles' look!
Is this a first bloom Dot?
 
Very Nice!

I think they named it after me, and as I tend to be a "mean" person that explains the name......

Robert
 
A lot nicer than I would have expected. It does have a sort of muscly look. Maybe that explains the name. Beautiful photo as always.

David
 
I think most people who have ever attended an orchid auction with Bill Thoms as the auctioneer would agree that it is a pretty entertaining event. His extensive knowledge of orchids combines perfectly with his sense of humor and the result is usually a sold out auction and lots of happy bidders. I can’t be sure, but there is a remote possibility that very minor amounts of alcohol served at some, but not all of these events may contribute to the jovial atmosphere as well.

As I understand it, Bill Thoms was auctioneering at a local orchid society auction where two plants of Paph. (Prime Child x sanderianum) up for bid. In order to generate additional interest, Bill announced that the highest bidder could either have the naming rights or Bill would just go ahead and register the cross, naming it after the high bidder. As it turns out the successful bidder (you guessed it – his name was “Bob”) continued to outbid several people on subsequent plants that were brought up for auction. That bidder became known during the auction as “Mean Bob.” After the auction “Bob” told Bill that he would love to see the plant named “Paph. Mean Bob” so that is exactly what happened.
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Oh, I love hearing the story behind the name! Thanks for sharing it with us! :clap:
 
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