CSA-Journal-2016-04

Parishii Regained
By Emma D. Menninger.
Reprinted from AOS Bulletin 34(10):892-897, October 1965, with permission from the AOS
In our search for Cymbidium species,
we particularly sought the rare species
parishii and its famous variety 'Sanderae'.
In a number of visits to the orchid growers
of Europe in our quest for parishii, we
were invariably informed that it was no
longer in cultivation and was believed to
be extinct. Dr. Yoshio Nagano of Tokyo,
Japan, expressed the hope that it might still
be found in the Imperial Orchid Collection
of Japan, but on investigation he reported
that it was not to be found there.
Years ago, we had heard of a plant
of parishii in our area at Armacost and
Royston's establishment in Los Angeles,
but there, also, we were informed by Mr.
Sydney Bracey that it was no longer in the
collection, although they had registered
Cym. Prelude, a hybrid of parishii 'Sanderae'
X Autumn Tints, as late as 1953. Dr. G. A.
L. Mehlquist, formerly of the University of
California at Los Angeles, now at the University
of Connecticut, wrote me that he
had seen it in flower there. In his letter of
1958 he wrote: "When this plant bloomed
I compared it with the published pictures
of Cymbidium parishii, var. Sanderae, and
concluded that it must be a piece of the
original clone Sanderae ... Mr. Fred Sander
...was of the opinion that the piece that Armacost
and Royston had probably was the
only one left." Dr. Mehlquist then obtained
root tips of parishii 'Sanderae' and made a
chromosome count of 2n = 40, which was
published in the Cymbidium Society News
for January, 1952.
Early in 1961 we visited the orchid
range of Armacost & Royston, under the
management of Mr. Leo Holguin, of whom
we inquired if the plant of Cym. parishii
had ever turned up. Yes, there was a small
piece which he showed to us. It consisted
of a very small dormant bulb and a new
growth. The plant was labeled "Cymbidium
var. Sanderae." Our delight at seeing this
rare plant after our long search can be
imagined. So far as we know, this was the
only piece in the collection. Arrangements
were made for us to take the plant, to grow
it on and, if possible, flower it. With such a
precious treasure, every effort was made to
induce it to grow.
In the fall of 1962 two spikes appeared,
one on each side of a newly made-up bulb.
On March 18, 1963, the larger raceme
Cymbidium parishii
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