This week’s Orchid Wise Orchid of the Week is… Cym. Sundaani Mali
Parentage: This week’s Orchid of the Week is a cross between Cym. Edward Marshall x Cym. tracyanum
Registered: 2019
The reason why it’s our Orchid of the Week:
Following on from last weeks hybrid of Cym. Edward Marshall x Cym. Isle’ Flamingo’, this weeks Orchid Wise Orchid of the Week is another progeny from the Cym. Edward Marshall/Sundaani Orchids stables…
A cross that I had always wanted to do myself, with both parents being favourites of mine, I was beaten to the punch! I’ve always considered Cym. Edward Marshall an under-appreciated flower, and it is also fragrant. For some reason, after only two early(ish) hybrids, it seems it was forgotten as a potential parent for over 65 years!
Bred by Sundaani Orchids, only 20 minutes from where I live in Adelaide, Cym. Sundaani Mali is another vintage style diploid hybrid that I own and grow. I have two seedlings, both of which are quite similar, and also share the Cym. Edward Marshall shape, similar to Cym. Mali’s Isle.
Over the last decade alone, Sundaani Orchids has registered a further 11 progeny from Cym. Edward Marshall, effectively breathing new life into this under-appreciated vintage hybrid.
As with Cym. Mali’s Isle, the large 12-14cm blooms are held very high on tall upright spikes, and my seedlings have a very strong yellow base colour. This fact alone makes it stand out from across the room, or the shade house! My seedlings have inherited the hairs on the throat of the flower like Cym. tracyanum, and to varying degrees, some spots and striping. It’s certainly not a flower for everyone, however creates a new chapter for two very old
From memory, I think this cross is also fragrant. Something I always look for in a hybrid!
Finally, tracing the plant’s heritage through Orchid Roots reveals its primary species ancestors are Cym. tracyanum, Cym. insigne and Cym. hookerianum.
