- Breeder
- Mike Wang
- First described
- 2012
- Type
- individual clone named select from seed batch
Origin
Mike Wang's California-bred F1 cross. Pod parent: ornata Gulf Coast, FL (Sheridan-source clone). Pollen parent: ornata Bulloch Co, GA "black-veined" clone. Mike kept two standouts from this seed batch — this clone B and a separate "select" clone (documented in C0057 / thread 239).
History
- Pre-2012: cross made; selection from seed batch.
- 2012-08-14 (post #1): Mike posts the clone with detailed parentage and trait inheritance breakdown.
- 2012-09-04 (post #9): Mike has already backcrossed clone B to his best Bulloch black-veined clone, expecting strong F2 offspring.
- 2014-09 (goodkoalie, post #12): plant in third-party collection; rhizome size exploding.
- 2017-06 (calen, post #24): remade the exact cross in 2014 out of admiration for clone B; one of his seedlings stood out with similar bronzy lid + extra-dark color.
- 2018-07 (post #25): Mike's clone B still alive in heavily depleted soil — robust, low-maintenance.
Standout traits
- Bronzy / coppery body from the Gulf Coast FL pod parent.
- Dark black, fine veins from the Bulloch Co GA black-veined pollen parent.
- Mike's "one of the most spectacular ornatas in the collection" designation.
- Tolerates neglect — survives depleted soil for years.
- Medium-only vigor — the trade-off for the looks.
Cultivation notes
Not a fast-growing clone; expect medium-vigor performance similar to or better than the Bulloch-Co black-veined grandparent (which Mike could not bring to specimen size in 15+ years). The plus side of low vigor is low fuss: this clone takes neglect well.
For breeders: Mike has already used clone B as a backcross parent to his best Bulloch black-veined clone — that lineage's downstream expression is an open question.
Photos
12 Mike-Wang photos spanning 2012-08 → 2018-07.
Standout traits
- Bronzy / coppery overall body color from the Gulf Coast FL pod parent
- Dark black, finely detailed veins from the black-veined Bulloch Co GA pollen parent
- Mike (post #1, 2012): 'one of the most spectacular S. flava var. ornatas in the collection'
- Calen (post #24, 2017): remade the exact cross in 2014 in pursuit of this look — testifies to the clone's influence
- Tough survivor — Mike (post #25, 2018): 'Haven't repotted it in years, the soil is almost totally depleted yet the plant somehow keeps tickin'
Cultivation
- Medium vigor — slower than typical F1 hybrids, but easier than the Bulloch black-veined grandparent.
- Tolerant of neglect: thrived for years in soil Mike admits had become "totally depleted" (post #25, 2018).
- Mike (post #9, 2012) backcrossed this to his best Bulloch black-veined clone in 2012 — expecting good downstream offspring.
Photos (12)
Naming
"Clone B" — Mike's letter-designation for this specific seed-batch individual. He kept two standouts from the seed batch (post #1).