The kentuckiense has finally bloomed! I was really worried about it since it is the only Cyp flower this year and the bugs of Kyushu are always hungry. Here she is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/CkentuckienseFL.jpg

The lip of this species is commonly compared to the size of a chicken egg, so I tested this hypothesis with a medium sized one. It came up well short of that size, but since this is an unestablished plant, the flower could be much larger next year.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/Ckentuckienseegg.jpg

And finally, a “sexy” close view. One remarkable feature of this flower is the unusually large opening to the lip:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/SexyKentuckySM.jpg

Well, that’s it for me this year with showing Cyps!

Tom

SFC sure makes an impact! Just beautiful!

Great photos too btw.

Love the colour contrast!
Yes the close up looks kinda seductive!
Thanks for sharing

Wow it lays eggs!!!!:poke: Very beautiful bloom.

The red edging on the pouch is so lovely!

Thanks Tom,

Kentuckiense is my favorite!

Nice one, Tom! Better luck next year with the others. That's a nice white pouch.

Tom,
Omedito....great bloom...Arigato goziamasu! Ja matta.:cool:

That is very nice,I wish i had one. The cyps up here are getting ready to open. I can see the buds. Maybe in the next few days.

As always, very lovely photo, Tom. It may be your only cyp bloom this year, but at least it's a beauty.

The flower is very nice. I like the large white slippers!

Ron Burch

what a beauty

The flower was finally on its way out today, so I took it off, and cut open the lip. Here's the inside of the lip and the staminode:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/CkentuckienseLip.jpg

No big deal, but I thought you all might like a look.

Tom

Very interesting markings!

Thanks Tom!

thats a great cyp. thanks for the pic Tom :cool:

Beautiful markings.

:drool: :drool: :drool: -nuff said!

Well, here's the same plant five months later, still mostly green, but finally showing signs of dormancy:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/Kentuckiense06.jpg

This species might live in this climate and actually even like it here! I'm thrilled, but cautious.

Tom

Well, here's the same plant five months later, still mostly green, but finally showing signs of dormancy. This species might live in this climate and actually even like it here! I'm thrilled, but cautious.

Tom

It looks extremely happy! Let us know how the buds look once it has become dormant.

Ron

With the long growing/green time it might be gaining a lot of energy for buds and blooms to come compared with cyps that go dormant in early October.
It will be interesting to see how well it thrievs in Your warm climate.

Hoping for the best
Joakim