Coelogyne Kirribilli Gillian is a new (2015) Kirribilli bred Coelogyne hybrid plant. In this case the primary hybrid is one made by cross-fertilising two species plants, Coelogyne mooreana 'Brockhurst' and Coelogyne huettneriana. The pod parent (mother), Coelogyne mooreana, is an extremely popular orchid and often referred to as the 'Queen of Coelogynes' because of its great beauty. This is the fifteenth hybrid using this parent out of only 80 registered Coelogyne hybrids (2017). The pollen parent (father) Coelogyne huettneriana is very closely related to, and often confused with, the extremely popular Coelogyne flaccida.
With an 8cm flower width, this hybrid offers another pretty member to the attractive 'white' range of Coelogynes and to the ever-increasing number of white hybrids to choose from. On its first flowering this seedling has produced a very clean, upright, 15 cm inflorescence with 5 flowers from a developing psuedobulb (proteranthous). The psuedobulbs are ovoid and bluntly angular, forming a compact plant. The bifoliate leaves have a very prominent mid-rib.
While both parents have contributed to the pristine white sepals and petals fairly equally, Coelogyne mooreana's genes are much more apparent on the flower lip. This includes more fimbriate keels running from the lip base well out to the mid-lobe, and is also evident in the broader, more open flower aspect.
Coelogyne huettneriana's darker markings and colouring have been greatly reduced and resulted in much more lighter lemon/orange colouring on the inside lobes - as compared to Coelogyne mooreana's lip colouring which is restricted to the central keel areas and some bleeding to the outside surface of the mid-lobe.
This plant was pollinated 7th November 2009, sown into flasks on 22nd October 2010 and deflasked on 13th September 2011. It flowered for the first time 15th September 2015 - almost a six year exercise from pollination to flowering.
This hybrid has been appropriately named after my beautiful daughter, Gillian and clever mother of my beautiful grandchildren. It is another orchid developed as part of my Kirribilli breeding program to develop more Coelogyne hybrids.
Negatives: .Perhaps the flowers are slightly smaller than the pod parent (Coelogyne mooreana) but this is still a first flowering on a seedling plant and the plant will be even better with maturity.
Rating: ♦♦♦♦ The so-called group of "white" Coelogynes has always very justifiably had wide public appeal. This plant has many of the same desirable traits but has the addition of hybrid vigour. This vigour is already very evident in the vigourous, healthy nature of the seedlings.
Registration: Registration with the RHS as Coelogyne Kirribilli Gillian was recorded in September 2015.
Varieties: None known.
Hybrids: None registered
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