Angellea Great Scott (Angraecum scottianum X Jumellea comorensis)

 

Pictured above are the parents of Angellea Great Scott.

       Angraecum scottianum crossed with Jumellea comorensis should prove to be an unusual hybrid when it blooms.  Hybridizing different genera has created very unique offspring.  There are numerous reasons that a grower would have for creating a specific cross such as changing plant size, flower color and/or flower shape and the number of flowers that the plant may produce.  Final results though would not be seen until the offspring bloomed for the first time.  Keep in mind that not all of the offspring will look identical.  Some will look like the seed parent, some being similar to the pollen parent and yet others will be totally different adopting traits from both parents.  This issue is dealt with in the post "The Variations Of Angraecum Lemforde White Beauty" published here in September, 2014.

       Angellea Great Scott was created by Leon Glicenstein.  I did get to ask him the reason for creating this specific hybrid.  Throwing all reason aside; it was from pure curiosity. 

       This post is the second where I will follow the development of a small group of seedlings.  I have successfully grown and have bloomed both parents.  The culture used for the seedlings is based entirely on the parent's culture.

Jumellea comorensis mounted to a cork slab. (pollen parent)

       Jum. comorensis was featured in a post in May 2012,  It is a fast growing Angraecoid that will branch and produce new plants at the base.  In it's natural habitat, it grows on the rough bark of trees in bright light and in low light.  My plants are watered twice a day throughout the warm months of the year,  When temperatures drop to below eighty degrees (27C) watering is cut back to once a day; usually in the mornings.Watering is cut back to every two to three days when temperatures are at seventy degrees (22C) or below.  Due to the amount of water the plant requires, be sure to be growing in an area with a steady amount of air movement.  If excessive water is left on the leaves for to long a period, the plant becomes susceptible to fungus and the leaves will rot quickly.  With the tropical and sub-tropical climate here is South Florida, Jum. comorensis doesn't have a dormant period.

       Plant structure can reach a height of almost twelve inches (30cm) with roots about 2cm that flatten when attached to mounting material.  It has the capability of becoming a specimen in just two or three years producing several singularly borne flowers from each stem.  Jumellea comorensis will often become pendant like.

   Angraecum scottianum is mounted to a 12" tree fern totem.  (seed parent)

       An article regarding Angcm. scottianum was posted in December 2012.  I grow this Angraecoid mounted to tree fern material; usually a tree fern totem.  According to material in the 1986 book written by Fred Hillerman, the plant should be drenched during the warm summer months.  My mounted plants are watered twice a day (early mornings and late afternoons).  Once the temperatures start to drop, watering is back off to once a day and eventually every other day during the mild winters.

       The plants thrive with this much water.  They grow upright but do become pendant with length.  I let the top third of the plants drupe until after they have bloomed; tying them up slightly higher after blooming.  Aerial roots do appear but not more than a third of the way up the plant.  The climate here in South Florida seems to be very similar to that of plant's natural habitat; the main reason it seems to thrive here.

       Angraecum scottianum grows well with very bright diffused light (about 3500 fc).  I have also had several plants in lower light (2000 - 2500 fc).  They don't seems to grow as quickly; but they have always bloomed.  I have the larger specimens growing towards the top of the arbor where they are exposed to a constant air flow.  New plants usually develop at the base of the plant and are slow in starting.  Once the plant has become an older specimen, branching does occur.

       Angcm. scottianum will grow between 8 - 15 inches tall (20-37cm).  Leaves will measure 2.5 - 4 inches long (6.5-10cm) and are teret like (tubular in shape) .  Flowering can take place anytime between late February into early November with the most productive time in June and July.  It has been reported that up to eight flowers can appear on a single inflorescence although I have never seen more than six on any of my plants.  Flowers have a rather large resupinated lip which is 1.7 inches wide (4.2cm).  The sepals and petals are thin and pointed and reach a length of 1 inch (2.5cm).  The spur/nectary is about 5 - 6 inches long (12-15cm).  Flowers are fragrant during the dark hours.

Angellea Great Scott seedlings mounted to cork, tree fern material and cypress slabs.

       The seedlings have been mounted as each of the parents.  During this very warm summer, they are watered twice a day and misted if late afternoon temperatures are still above 90 F (32 C).  They are presently receiving 2500 - 3000 fc of light (diffused bright light).  They hang from the upper area of the arbor where they also receive a constan air movement.

       The plant structure of Angellea Great Scott is very similar to that of the pollen parent Jumellea comorensis.  In the first two images of the seedlings, you can see the leaves are shaped in form and size to to the pollen parent.  There does appear to be a slight variation in plant number three.  The leaves are close to that of the seed parent; but nor fully teret.

       It will be interesting to see how the seedlings develop and hopefully bloom.  Leon seems to have created what should be a fantastic surprise!

Angraecum scottianum

     Angraecum scottianum, a species of angraecoid used as a parent to one of the most popular Angraecums sought after by hobbyists to date; Angraecum Longiscott.  Angcm. scottianum is also one of the easiest Angraecums to grow in culture.  I have several of the plants at various stages of growth from a seedling to a few mature plants.  I will concentrate on the development of the seedling in this post to its first bloom.
     Angraecum scottianum originates from Grande Comore Island in the Comoro Islands.  It is found on the western slopes of Mt Karthala at about 1,300 - 1,950 feet (400-600m).  It is an epiphyte that grows on the trunks and lower branches of large trees.  Angcm. scottianum is usually found growing on the west side of the trees being exposed to almost full afternoon sun.  I'll address this in detail for plants in culture a bit later in this post.

Angraecum scottianum

 

     Angcm. scottianum will grow well either mounted or in a pot/basket.  You will find that growing it in a pot/basket, you'll need to stake it.  The plant becomes very pendulous and wiry.  By mounting it to a tree-fern totem, the aerial roots that develop from the lower quarter of the plant will have an opportunity to attach to the totem.  The tree-fern material will also give good drainage when watering and give the roots the ability to breath and not become stagnant.  During the warm summer months the plant will need to be watered daily and often misted in the later part of the day.  I water my plants everyday for almost ten months; backing off to every other day in December and January (temperatures are averaging low to mid 70s F).  If the temps drop below 70 degrees F (50s - 60s F) I will back off on the water a third day, never more than that.  Angcm. scottianum has a very short rest period, if at all.

     When fertilizing Angcm. scottianum, I do nothing different than I usually do.  Fertilizer is applied every seven days throughout the entire growing season and is only backed off to every 10 - 14 days in December and January.  I use a systemic fungicide every 30 days (Thiomyl).  Keep in mind that you should alternate your fungicides to prevent issues of immunities.  You can check with your local orchid growers about alternates.  I also use Dithane and Clearys.  I also keep Physan 20 on hand in a quart spray bottle (a good topical fungicide) for minor problems that arise between my regular treatments.

     The overall length of Angcm. scottianum's stem will vary between 8 - 16 inches (18-40cm) and will eventually become pendulous in a more mature plant.  Branching will develop at the lower to mid section of the plant.  Plants that have a stem barely 2 inches (5cm) tall can and usually will bloom.

 

Angcm. scottianum seedling with bud



     The leaves are terete and usually about 4 - 5 inches (10-13cm) long.  Each leaf having a groove running the length on the top side of the leaf.  With the leaves being terete and somewhat thin, the plant will take very bright light, although direct mid-day sun light should be avoided.  Morning and late afternoon sunlight is fine.  With plants that are grown in the upper north, an east or west window will do fine.  The plant can also be placed on a table several feet from the window.  The root system will eventually put out aerial roots, although not much higher than 4 inches (10cm) from the base.

     The inflorescence is 2 - 5 inches (5-13cm) long on mature plants and can put up to 8 flowers each.

Flowers usually open in pairs successively over a period of about 2 months.  In younger plants, the flowers may be borne singularly on a pedicle of about 1 inch (2.5cm).  As the inflorescence developes, multiple sheaths will cover the bud.  As the bud grows, the sheaths will separate as a snake sheds it's skin.  The sheaths protect the developing bud as long as possible.

Angcm. scottianum bud development

 

     Once the flowers of Angraecum scottianum open, they are 2 - 2.5 inches (5-6.5cm) across.  The petals and the sepals are about 1 inch (2.5cm) long with the petals being slightly narrower than the sepals.  The nectary or spur is usually about 4 - 6 inches (12-15cm) long.  They have a waxy substance and have a faint fragrance of seet honey.  The peetals and sepals open with a yellowish green tint and turn pure white as the lip.

 

Angcm. scottianum



     The flowers can last up to three weeks if the plants are kept out of the elements.  Here in the northern hemisphere, the blooming period can range from mid February into mid October in the sub-tropical regions .  Heaviest during the warmer months of June through late August in the more temperate areas. 

Angraecum Longiscott

     The Angraecum that started this entire process in the early part of 2000.  This is the orchid that would become the subject of a piece of artwork becoming one of my most popular works and eventually lead me into my present Angraecum addiction.  A genera of plants that have some of the most beautiful flowers that the orchid world has to offer.  As I mentioned in my first post, it was the orchid I purchased in a plastic bag from a Home Depot store.

Angrcm. Longiscott (3rd bloom season)

     With the realization that Angcm. Longiscott was a hybrid; only fueled my quest for the knowledge of what its’ parents really looked like.  Over a period of time, those images would change due to the fact I couldn’t see how one parents attributes could overrun the other parent to the extent it did.  My question is this: how could an Angcm. eburneum crossed with Angrcm. scottianum produce an offspring with a spur (nectary) longer than either one of its parents?  According to the tag, this was the lineage.  I didn’t believe the tag.  Upon further research I found this lineage: Angrcm. eburneum ssp. superbum crossed with Angrcm. scottianum.  Looking at images of the parents still had me questioning the lineage.  And my final answer is: Angrcm. eburneum ssp. superbum var. longicalcar crossed with Angcm. scottianum produces the offspring Angrcm. Longiscott (Longi-scott).  My point is this; with the use of subspecies and variations, it was only a matter of time before the actual species’ names were shortened.  One last note to this issue; Angrcm. longicalcar is now the official classification of Angrcm. eburneum ssp. superbum var. longicalcar.  The addiction is now in full swing!
     I have found Angrcm. Longiscott to be one of the easiest orchids to grow.  It is certainly one of the most beautiful plants in my collection.  Its’ flowers can last 8 – 12 weeks if the plant is kept out of the elements while in bloom.  It is fast growing and can become a thick specimen in just two to three years if given the right amount of water, fertilizer and fungicide.

  Angrcm. Longiscott

     The plant will grow well mounted and even better in a basket or a terracotta pot with good drainage holes (up to twice as fast), Place them in a basket or pot of at least 6 inches.  Being in a media gives the plant access to moisture and nutrients longer which gives the plant more of what it needs to flourish.  As you can see in the photographs above, the potted plant is almost twice the size of the mounted plant.  They were identical seedlings at the time they were mounted and potted.  Angrcm. Longiscott grows year round, there is no dormant season.
      I water the potted and basket plants no less than twice a week in the warmer months (May through early October) while the plants that are mounted are watered daily.  Try to keep water from gathering at the base of the leaves against the stem.  It will cause stem rot if too much water sits there for a long period of time.  Watering is cut back to once a week in cooler months for the plants in pots and baskets and 2 – 4 times a week for the mounted plants.  The media that is used for plants either in a pot or a basket is a medium to coarse mixture of coconut husk, charcoal, perlite or aliflor and some tree fir.  You can add a bit of moss to hold the moisture a bit longer.  The plants that are mounted do have some moss wrapped around the base of the plant and the root system.
     Fertilize the plants once a week; even during the cooler months.  Angrcm. Longiscott is growing twelve months a year.  To give the plants a little boost, I place about a tablespoon of dynamite in the pots or baskets.  I use a systemic fungicide every 4 – 6 weeks and keep a quart bottle of a topical fungicide on hand in case of spot problems.
     Mature plants will have stems 8 – 12 inches high.  With the leaves growing up and arching gives the plant an overall height of 16 – 20 inches.  It puts out numerous keikis and branches as its maturity develops.  Becoming a beautiful specimen in just a couple of years.  Inflorescences are born from the leaf axils, grow to 7 – 12 inches and will contain 2 – 12 flowers.  The flowers twist just before they open so that the lip actually becomes a hood and so that the spur will hang down.  Flowers are about 2 ½ inches wide by 2 inches high lasting 8 – 12 weeks.  The spur is anywhere from 7 – 9 inches long.

 Angrcm. Longiscott (1st bloom season)

     Give Angrcm. Longiscott what it needs and it will give you years of beautiful flowers.  One last thing… this another one that you don’t want to mess with the roots.