White Complex discussion

[paphioland]

I thought this might deserve its own thread.

People always say complexes aren't purely white. THERE ARE NO WHITE COMPLEX PAPHS, NONE. Or there aren't any that are white from start of bloom to finish. If someone can prove that wrong I will eat my words but I have yet to see one or hear of one from a reliable source. Meaning totally white like some delenatii albums minus the staminode. Some are much whiter than others. Some of the best white complexes are not anywhere close to pure white.

 

[jblanford]

Well from my post Paph. White Knight, this is the whitest Paph I've ever seen, I will get better pics the next time it blooms..... Jim

 

[tim]

Boy this is a difficult topic, particularly due to poor photo quality in awards slides. Of course this says nothing about long-term whiteness or whiteness when opening, but I have a feew to get the wheels moving:

Tokyo Knight Dream 'Silver Moon' B/CSA (Jolly Green Gem x White Knight - 2003)
Manna Manna 'Martha' B/CSA (Dusty Miller x Yerba Buena - 1999)
Mystic Knight 'Blumen Insel' S/CSA (Elfstone x White Knight - 1999)
White Castle 'Whiteout' B/CSA (Mem. Toshio Miyata x Skip Bartlett - 1995)
White Knight 'Jupiter' S/CSA (Skip Bartlett x Green Mystery - 1987)

k then - I haven't seen these in bloom so go ahead and shoot me down preferably with some pix.

Alternatively, you could take a different track - some clones of bellatulum alba, godefroyae alba, even Greyi alba are pretty white...

 

[user 9150]

In judging there are points given for color not the lack of it. White is the total absence of color. All "white" paphs have color to some degree. Breeding for the total absence of color, don't know any breeders doing this. Color is wonderful and pure white would be an oddity. That's ok. I just love color! And all the white paphs are stunning in all values of white from cream, pink, to green and every shade in between.

I have had many discussions with Daffodil breeders about white flowers. Talk about obsessing.

It's all good!

Theresa

 

[Roy]

I've read your post a few times and I think I would have to agree that there are NO pure white complexes from start to finish. Given the parentage background of complexes, it would be near impossible to achieve. In many complexes have the odd brachy in there which helps the white factor but the amount of greens or yellows used must overshaddow the white to a greater extent. Even though we have seen in the forum some classic "whites" they are typical of complex Paphs, some color in the flower, usually green or at times, yellow. Until such time as a Paph with the albino factor occurs like it has with cymbidiums, we have to accept white complex paphs as they are now.

 

[ohio-guy]

I think it is an important point you make that there are none that are pure white from start to finish, as I have noted often times how much a bloom will change as it ages, with a creamy flower becoming paler/whiter as the blossom puts on a couple weeks.
You can see color shifts in the greens turning yellow as they age too.

As far as the brachy whites, some I have seen are as white as anything, but they are not the complex bulldog type I think Ken is talking about.