The American Orchid Society (AOS) is a
horticultural society for education, conservation, and research of
orchids
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant.
Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...
. It was founded in 1921, and has an international membership.
[ It is a ]nonprofit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
501(c)(3) organization
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of t ...
.[ It has been called an "]industry
Industry may refer to:
Economics
* Industry (economics), a generally categorized branch of economic activity
* Industry (manufacturing), a specific branch of economic activity, typically in factories with machinery
* The wider industrial sector ...
group".[ it was the largest special interest horticultural organization in the world.][ The AOS is the parent organization for local orchid societies in North and South America.][ It is affiliated with 600 orchid societies worldwide.][ A local commercial orchid grower, Robert Fuchs, said, "The American Orchid Society has the best orchid library in the Americas and orchid art work that is phenomenal."][ annual dues were $40.][
]
Grants
the AOS had awarded over $800,000 in grants
Grant or Grants may refer to:
Places
*Grant County (disambiguation)
Australia
* Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia
United Kingdom
*Castle Grant
United States
* Grant, Alabama
*Grant, Inyo County, C ...
for research in genetics
Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinian friar wor ...
, conservation
Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws.
Conservation may also refer to:
Environment and natural resources
* Nature conservation, the protection and manageme ...
, pest and disease control
Preventive healthcare, or prophylaxis, consists of measures taken for the purposes of disease prevention.Hugh R. Leavell and E. Gurney Clark as "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical and mental hea ...
, propagation
Propagation can refer to:
*Chain propagation in a chemical reaction mechanism
*Crack propagation, the growth of a crack during the fracture of materials
*Propaganda, non-objective information used to further an agenda
*Reproduction, and other forms ...
and fragrance
An aroma compound, also known as an odorant, aroma, fragrance or flavoring, is a chemical compound that has a smell or odor. For an individual chemical or class of chemical compounds to impart a smell or fragrance, it must be sufficiently vol ...
and other subjects.[ The ]Vallarta Botanical Gardens
The Vallarta Botanical Garden is a botanical garden at 1,300 ft (400 m) above sea level, near Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Of which are dedicated to preserve.
The garden was founded in 2004 and has been open to the public since 2005. The ...
near Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta ( or simply Vallarta) is a Mexican beach resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Puerto Vallarta is the second largest urban agglomeration in the state after the Guadala ...
received a conservation action planning grant from the society.[ A grant of between $500 and $12,000 for ]graduate study
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree.
The organization and stru ...
in orchid research is offered by the organization.[ In 2004 four such grants for a total of $32,508 were disbursed.][
]
Publications
The society publishes a monthly magazine, ''Orchids, The Bulletin of the American Orchid Society'' and provides information about orchids and growing them via its website.[ The original title of the bulletin was ''American Orchid Society Bulletin'' from 1932 to 1995.][ Volume 1, Issue 1 of ''The American Orchid Society Bulletin'' was published in June 1932.] It was styled, "A magazine devoted to the popularizing of orchids and their culture". The first editor was David Lumsden. An early editor of the bulletin was Louis Otho Williams Louis Otho (Otto) Williams (1908-1991) was a botanist from Wyoming. He received his BA and MA from the University of Wyoming then a PhD from Washington University in St. Louis. He went on to be editor of the ''American Orchid Society#Publications, A ...
, during his time as editor publication went from quarterly to monthly.[ Also while Williams was editor membership in the society grew from 200 to 3,000.][ The magazine has featured the paintings of Marion Sheehan.][ With her husband Tom Sheehan, she co-authored the longest running series in the magazine, "Orchid Genera Illustrated".][ ]John Thomas Curtis
John Thomas Curtis (September 20, 1913 – June 7, 1961) was an American botanist and plant ecologist. He is particularly known for his lasting contribution to the development of numerical methods in ecology. Together with J. Roger Bray, he deve ...
was a "well known contributor" to the bulletin.[ ]Stirling Dickinson
Stirling Dickinson (1909 – October 27, 1998) was an American artist who spent much of his life in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato in Mexico, where he was one of the first members of what would become a colony of expatriate artists from the Un ...
, James Brasch and Rebecca Northen have also written articles for the bulletin.[
The AOS also published a ]scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research.
Content
Articles in scientific journals are mostly written by active scientists such as s ...
, ''Lindleyana: The Scientific Journal of the American Orchid Society'' from 1986 to 2002.[ The journal's title commemorated ]John Lindley
John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.
Early years
Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley w ...
the father of orchidology
Orchidology is the scientific study of orchids. It is an organismal-level Branches of botany, branch of botany.
See also
*List of orchidologists
References
* The orchidology of H. G. Jones. Eric A. Christenson, Brittonia, January–March 199 ...
and "the first taxonomist
In biology, taxonomy () is the scientific study of naming, defining ( circumscribing) and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped into taxa (singular: taxon) and these groups are given ...
on a world scale."[ ''Lindleyana'' was hailed as the first real scientific journal when the first issue was published.][ It was called an excellent journal that "satisfies a long-felt need".][
With membership one receives a copy of the society's book ''Your First Orchid'' and the ''Orchid Source Directory''.][ The book ''Ultimate Orchid'' was written by Thomas Sheenan in association with the AOS and the ]Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...
.[
Paul H. Allen was a long time publication consultant for the AOS.][
]
Judging orchids
The organization trains and credentials judges for orchid shows.[ To become an AOS Accredited Judge takes seven years of study and practice.][ There are 30 AOS judging centers throughout the United States.][ It also sanctions judging events and gives awards for outstanding examples of orchids.][ One such award is the Highly Commendable Certificate for orchid hybrids granting the designation HCC/AOS.][ The highest level award is the First Class Certificate (FCC/AOS).][ Plants submitted for judging must meet established cultural, botanical or horticultural criteria.][ The qualities judges assess include color vibrancy, splash petals, spots and different-colored lips.][ Other scoring criteria include flower form, color of flower, size of flower, substance and texture as well as stem and arrangement of blooms.][ The awards are a prestigious accomplishment for hobbyists and can result in higher prices for commercial growers.][ Certain awards can make a particular type of orchid extremely valuable meaning thousands of dollars in increased profit for the grower.][ Fuchs holds the record for most awards at over 800.][
]
History
The American Orchid Society was formed in 1921 in Boston, Massachusetts at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, sometimes abbreviated to MassHort, is an American horticultural society based in Massachusetts. It describes itself as the oldest formally organized horticultural institution in the United States. In its m ...
.[ At the first meeting a group of 35 men and one woman set goals of organizing orchid shows in various cities, establishing a plant register, and selecting a group of experienced growers to judge plants and recognize the ones with superior quality.][ The first president of the American Orchid Society was ]Albert Burrage
Albert Cameron Burrage (November 21, 1859 – June 29, 1931), known as A. C. Burrage, was an industrialist, attorney, horticulturist and philanthropist from the United States.
Birth
Albert Burrage was born on November 21, 1859, in Ashburnha ...
.[ The image for the seal of the society and its Gold Medal of Achievement was designed that year by Blanche Ames.][ It features a Native American (modeled on the artist's son) looking at a branch of orchid blooms.][ The medal was first awarded to Blanche Ames and her husband ]Oakes Ames
Oakes Ames (January 10, 1804 – May 8, 1873) was an American businessman, investor, and politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts. As a congressman, he is credited by many historians as being ...
in 1924.[ The society had 18,000 members in 1976 and there were 250 affiliated local orchid societies.][ In 1981 the AOS offered a $50,000 prize for the creation of an artificial orchid hybrid.][
In July 1984 the AOS moved its headquarters and orchid collection from ]Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
to the property of Lewis C. and Varina Vaughn in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lagoon. The populati ...
.[ It was located at 600 S. Olive Ave and was valued at $1 million.][ The City of West Palm Beach designated the orchid as its official flower and adopted the nickname "The Orchid City".][ The collection was accessible to the public until 1988, when Lewis Vaughn died and the estate came under city codes prohibiting operation of a business in the residential neighborhood.][ Vaughn willed his property to the society and a special use permit allowed the AOS to occupy the 6 acre (2.4 ha) estate.][ The permit was so restrictive visiting members could not even tour the grounds.][ The local ]neighborhood association
A neighborhood association (NA) is a group of residents or property owners who advocate to organize activities within a neighborhood. An association may have elected leaders and voluntary dues.
Some neighborhood associations in the United States ...
opposed the operation of the facility and for the next 13 years the headquarters were not open to the public.[
The organization's website was launched in 1996.][ It is considered one of the best sources for information about orchids.][ The American Orchid Society was listed in "The Horticulture 100" a "list of the best American gardening books, horticultural societies, perennials, shrubs, and trees" by ''Horticulture'' magazine.][
From 2001 to 2012 the society operated the American Orchid Society Visitors Center and Botanical Garden at ]Morikami Park
Morikami Park is a park in Palm Beach County, Florida. The park is named for George Morikami, a Japanese immigrant to Florida who donated the land for the park to the county. It is the site of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
The Mor ...
in Delray Beach, Florida
Delray Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population of Delray Beach as of April 1, 2020 was 66,846 according to the 2020 United States census, 2020 United States Census. Located 52 miles ...
contiguous with the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is a center for Japanese arts and culture located west of Delray Beach in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The campus includes two museum buildings, the Roji-en Japanese Gardens: Garden of th ...
.[
]
New location
Facing financial struggles due to decreasing membership and donations and losses in its investments the AOS partnered with the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an botanic garden with extensive collections of rare tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees, and vines. It is located in the city of Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, just south of Miami, s ...
and moved its facilities to the Fairchild campus in Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, officially City of Coral Gables, is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city is located southwest of Downtown Miami. As of the 2020 U.S. census, it had a population of 49,248.
Coral Gables is known globally as home to the ...
.[ Membership in 2001 was 29,000 in 2011 it was 10,000.][ With a $500,000 shortfall in its $2.5 million budget a decision was made to close the gardens, but supporters and local orchid societies raised funds to keep the gardens open and volunteers arranged to care for the plants.][ Society treasurer said, "When we moved to our home in Delray Beach, we thought it was our destiny. It wasn’t long before we found out we were not the best overseers of a public garden or that we should be in the retail business... We lost sight of the main thing — our members, conservation, education and research."][
To commemorate its 95th anniversary in 2016 the AOS recreated a series of orchid advertising images from the 1940s.][ In 2017 the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the American Orchid Society presented an exhibit of historic and contemporary art inspired by orchids, "Orchids Through the Artists' Eyes".][
]
Awards and medals
Flower quality awards
The AOS grants three levels of awards for flower quality based on a 100 point scale.
*Highly Commended Certificate (HCC/AOS) - 75 to 79 points
*Award of Merit (AM/AOS) - 80 to 89 points
*First Class Certificate (FCC/AOS) - 90 to 100 points
Other awards for plants
*Judges Commendation (JC) - possessing distinctive characteristics but cannot be scored customarily
*Award of Distinction (AD) - for a worthy new direction in breeding
*Award of Quality (AQ) - one in a group of at least twelve that are an improvement over former type
*Certificate of Botanical Recognition (CBR) - a rare and unusual species with educational value (must pass taxonomic verification)
*Certificate of Horticultural Merit (CHM) - possessing characteristics that contribute to the horticulture of orchids
Awards for exhibitors
*Certificate of Cultural Merit (CCM) - robust well flowered specimen in care of exhibitor for at least 12 months prior, score of 80 to 89 points
*Certificate of Cultural Excellence (CCE) - robust well flowered specimen in care of exhibitor for at least 12 months prior, score of 90 to 100 points
Annual awards
Medals
The AOS also issues medals and awards for service to the society, work in orchid culture and the research of orchids.
*Gold Medal of Achievement - highest recognition for distinguished contributions
*Silver Medal of Achievement - for a single project (prior to 1972 this was a plant or exhibit award)
*Achievement Award - for contributions to any aspect of orchidology including philanthropy and public relations
*Certificate of Meritorious Achievement in Orchid Education
*The Thomas Sheehan Award for Outstanding Service by an AOS Volunteer
*Ambassador Award - for lifelong service to the organization
*President's Award
*AOS Fellow - elected by the Board of Trustees
*AOS Award for Excellence in Hybridizing
*Distinguished Affiliated Societies Service Award[
]
Images
File:Orchid on display at American Orchid Society, Delray Beach.jpg , Phalaenopsis
File:Extremely rare orchid at American Orchid Society.JPG , Non-orchid companion plant
File:Purple orchids at Am Orchid Society, Delray Bch.JPG, Vandaceous orchid
File:Orchids at American Orchid Society, Delray Beach.JPG, Vandaceous orchid
References
Notes
Citations
Further reading
*
*
External links
*
The Orchid Photo Page
a large gallery of orchid photos by Greg Allikas with many AOS award photos
{{Authority control
Horticultural organizations based in the United States
Orchid organizations
Nonprofit hobbyist organizations based in the United States
1921 establishments in Massachusetts
Organizations established in 1921
Botany in North America