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Countless millions of sprays have been exported in the 20 years which have followed; only recently has their popularity waned due to the insatiable overseas demand for something new, and partly also to the rising costs first of cultivating a flower which has become relatively cheap, and second of air freight charges. The Arachnid is a climbing plant, in this respect similar to the Vanda. Flos-aeris flowers once a year only. Maggie has four continuous crops every 12 weeks throughout the year; as one plant, if properly fertilized, will produce three or four sprays per crop; it is one of the most floriferous of orchid hybrids.

In our pictures we have shown a close-up of the ‘Red Ribbon’ variety and of another hybrid with considerable variation in the color of the flower and larger than Maggie, which is probably a cross between Maggie and Flos-aeris. It is certainly an Arachnid, for apart from general shape and appearance there is the common characteristic of the hinged lip and side -lobes rather like a rocking chair on which an insect can alight. In the Vanda the lip is fixed or rigid. Although the genus Arachnid is less in favor, it will continue to flourish, if only for its successful crossing with Vanda’s to produce hybrid flowers, in which Singapore breeders have specialized.

Posted in: Home and Garden by bowo84 /