CSA-Journal-2016-04

Hybrids
Cymbidium parishii 'Sanderae' appears
to be the only clone of parishii of record
that was used in hybrids. It was used to
make a number of fine hybrids of its day
and its influence is still potent. With insigne,
it made Dryad in 1914; with lowianum,
Garnet in 1915; with Lowio-grandiflorum,
Martin in 1920; and with Pauwelsii, Elfin
(syn. Cygnet) in 1918, besides a number
of other crosses. All of these crosses were
registered by Sir George Holford except the
last, which he also made as Cygnet. These
hybrids in turn were the parents of other
fine progeny. Indeed, the ancestry of our
most popular Cymbidium stud plant today
— Cym. Balkis — can be traced back to
parishii 'Sanderae'.
Rarity
In 1904, when Cym. parishii 'Sanderae'
received the F.C.C./RHS award, Mr.
Rolfe (Orch. Rev., Vol. 12, June 1904, p.
164) stated that "it is doubtful whether the
original plants now exist." As late as 1916
(Orchid World, Vol. 6, 1916, p. 129) it
was stated of Cym. parishii, "which so far
as is known is not in cultivation." In 1927
(Journ. R. H. S., Vol. 52, pt. 1, 1927, p. 30)
Mr. Alexander mentioned that Westonbirt
had bred fine Cymbidiums from parishii
'Sanderae', but he did not indicate whether
it was then still in the Westonbirt collection.
In Withner's "The Orchids — A Scientific
Survey" (1959, p. 266) it is stated
that Cym. parishii "is probably no longer in
cultivation." This belief was also expressed
by Mr. Roger Sander and other English
orchid growers several years ago when we
were searching for this rare species.
Thus, it appears that Cymbidium parishii
may have been rescued from the fate
that befell the extinct archeopteryx and the
dodo. — Greenoaks, Arcadia, California.
The Rev. Parish's Cymbidium
By Wm. Jeff Trimble.
"Parishii Regained", the historic
article first published by the AOS
in 1965 by Emma Menninger
illustrates how the fate of an
orchid species can be affected by
mankind for the good as well as
bad.
The Cymbidium species
parishii, sanderae, or parishii var.
Sanderae is one of the most important
species we have in Cymbidium
hybridizing. It is in the
background of some of the most
significant Cymbidium hybrids
that have been registered. As a
Cymbidium parishii var. Sanderae,
Photo CSA Archives
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