1. Stanhopea
James Diffily
Dallas Judging Center
December 2017

2. Stanhopea A genus of 67 species inhabiting wet forests at low
to moderate elevations from Mexico to southern Brazil.

3. Stanhopea A genus of 67 species inhabiting wet forests at low
to moderate elevations from Mexico to southern Brazil.
There are centers of species
diversity in Mexico and
Colombia.

4. Stanhopea A genus of 67 species inhabiting wet forests at low
to moderate elevations from Mexico to southern Brazil.
There are centers of species
diversity in Mexico and
Colombia.
Named for the Earl of
Stanhope

5. Flower Anatomy Stanhopea inflorescences are
pendant, emerging from the base
of the plant.
Most sepals and petals are reflexed
with column and lip at right angles.

6. The fleshy lip is
differentiated into 3 sections.

7. The large stiffened column
lies parallel to the lip.

8. The large waxy flowers of Stanhopea offer no food or reward for bees other than powerful fragrances

9. The large waxy flowers of Stanhopea offer no food or reward for bees other than powerful fragrances
Euglossine Bees are fast fliers and travel long distances in search of these powerful fragrances, which they collect.

10. There are 2 flower types:
Fall-through Flowers

11. The lip is not elongated.
Gullet-type Flowers
The lip is not elongated.
The column wings, lip and petals form a tubular gullet.
The bee enters and exits the mouth of the gullet.
Stanhopea ecornuta
Stanhopea pulla
Stanhopea martiana
There are several species intermediate
between the 2 forms.
Stanhopea tricornis

12. Hybrids Of the 67 species of Stanhopea, 36 have been used in hybrids.
Ten species have 10 or more grexes.
Five will be presented here.

13. Stanhopea tigrina Distribution: Mexico in well watered Oak forests.
42 F-1 plus an additional 18 2nd generation hybrids
38 AOS awards – 5 FCC, 21 AM, 7 HCC

14. Stanhopea tigrina Notable Hybrids: Stanhopea Assidensis 1922
(S. tigrina x S. wardii)
15 AOS Awards
5 F-1 Offspring
Stanhopea Lydia Bush 2007
(S. tigrina x S. grandiflora)
7 AOS Awards
2 F-1 Offspring

15. Stanhopea ruckeri Distribution: Mexico and Nicaragua in
wet montane forests.
14 F-1’s
Notable Hybrid:
Stanhopea Nicholas Swett 2011
(S. ruckerii x S. ecornuta)

16. Stanhopea insignis Distribution: Brazil in relatively dry
coastal mountain strip.
2AOS Awards
Notable Hybrid:
Stanhopea Bellaerensis 1896
(S. insignis x S. occulata)
2 Australian Awards

17. Stanhopea oculata Notable Hybrid:
Distribution: Mexico to Brazil in wet forests.
13 F-1 plus an additional 2 Second Generation
15 AOS awards
Notable Hybrid:
Stanhopea Ronsard 1989
(S. wardii x S. occulata)
10 AOSAwards

18. Notable Hybrids: Stanhopea wardii
Distribution: Southern Central America and northern South America.
12 F-1 plus an additional 6 Second Generation
19 AOS awards
Notable Hybrids:
Stanhopea Ronsard 1989
(S. wardii x S. occulata)
Stanhopea Assidensis 1922
(S. tigrina x S. wardii)

19. Intergeneric Crosses Aciopea (Acineta x Stanhopea) 6
Cirrhopea (Cirrhaea x Stanhopea) 2
Coryhopea (Coryanthes x Stanhopea) 15
Houhopea (Houlletia x Stanhopea) 1
Kegeopea (Kegeliella x Stanhopea) 1
Paphinopea (Paphina x Stanhopea) 2
Stanbreea (Embreea x Stanhopea) 3
Stangora (Gongora x Stanhopea) 3
Stanhocycnis (Polycycnis x Stanhopea) 1
Total 34 registerted
Awards 13
Offspring 3
Aciopea Eric Sauer
Coryhopea Red Martian
Stangora Quetzaquatl AD/AOS

20. Judging Stanhopea
Point score the “Fall through” form using the General Scale
Point score the “Gullet” form using the Cymbidium Scale
Stanhopea martiana
Cymbidium Snowflake
In both, look for: Color intensity, crispness, distribution on flower
Size increases
Floriferousness
Form appropriate to species
Expect a lot of variability in color and patterning.
Expect floriferous species to have issues with crowding.

21. Judges Comments Size Color Floriferousness Form
“larger size would have raised score.”
“commended for superior form and large size.”
Size
“larger than average flowers.”
“size exceptional, form superlative for type.”
Color
“plant with more and larger flowers than prior H. C. C. award.”
Floriferousness
“flowers larger in all segments than previously awarded clones.”
Form
“commended for pale pink blush …”
“color clear and distinct.”
“awarded for particularly sharp color contrast and pleasing overall shape.”
“commended for floriferousness, size and superior color.”
“impressive number of flowers on single inflorescence.”

22. Good luck getting your Stanhopea
to Judging.
You will need it!

23. References
Cameron, Sydney A. (Jan. 2004) "PHYLOGENY AND BIOLOGY OF NEOTROPICAL ORCHID BEES (EUGLOSSINI)," in: Annual Review of Entomology 49:
Chase MW Tribe Epidendreae. In: Pridgeon AM, Cribb PJ, Chase MW, Rasmussen F, eds. Genera Orchidacearum, Vol. 4. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
Horich, Clarence K.L. (May-June 1974) 'The Costa Rican Stanhopea Species,' in: Orchid Digest 38(3): 108.
Jenny, Rudolf (Jan-Feb-Mar 1993a) "The Genus Stanhopea in Colombia," in: Orchid Digest 57(1): 17.
Kraus, Linda (April 1984) "The Culture of Stanhopeas -- Confessions of a Requited Lover," in: AOS Bulletin 53(4):
Meisel, Kaufmann, Pupulin Orchids of Tropical America .Cornel University Press
W. Mark Whitten and Norris H. Williams (1992) "Floral fragrances of Stanhopea (Orchidaceae)," in: Lindleyana 7:
Williams, Norris H. and Whitten, W. Mark (1982) "Identification of floral fragrance components of Stanhopea embreei and attraction of its pollinator to synthetic fragrance compounds," in: Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 51:
, The Fuqua Orchid Center, Atlanta Botanical Garden