"The American
Orchid Society has encouraged and recognized advancements in the
cultivation and hybridization of orchids through its judging system
since 1949. Today, the system, led by nearly 600 certified judges
throughout the world, is undoubtedly one of the most extensive,
elaborate and prestigious horticultural judging systems in the world.
The AOS's system of judging was developed to grant recognition to new
and superior forms of orchid species and to improved forms of orchid
hybrids, as well as to plants of superior culture. Ideal flower form
and optimum cultivation are elusive goals that hybridizers and growers
strive to achieve. Judges must be knowledgeable of basic species used
in hybridizing and the expected results of their use in breeding, and
they must keep current on developments in modern hybridizing".
A rainbow of vandas in Fl.
"The
AOS's judging system is comprised of 31 Centers and additional sites
throughout the United States and Canada. Each Center is served by a
dedicated group of certified judges, maintains an extensive reference
library of books and award photos for its judging activities, and is
responsible for training prospective judges who affiliate with it.
These Centers provide opportunities to have plants judged on specified
monthly dates. The Centers also provide judging service to
AOS-sanctioned shows within their area. Center activities are open to
interested observers who wish to see the judging process in operation
and/or bring their plants to be evaluated. Meeting dates, times, places
and contact information are published each month in the award-winning Orchids magazine. Here is the most-current version of that information, and here is a listing of the Chairs of the Judging Centers".
The
American Orchid Society grants awards to encourage and recognize
meritorious achievement in all fields of orchid endeavors in accordance
with the established rules set out in the Handbook on Judging and Exhibition.
There are awards for flower quality, excellence of culture,
advancements in hybridizing, botanical interest and other
recognition-worthy aspects. There are also prestigious specialty awards
granted annually for exceptional plants singled out as the best of the
best from each year's awards.
AD (Award of Distinction) and AQ (Award of Quality) These awards for breeding recognize worthy new trends and improved quality, respectively.
AM (Award of Merit) A
flower scoring 80 to 89 points on a 100-point scale. This
flower-quality award is a fine though lesser achievement than the FCC.
CBR (Certificate of Botanical Recognition) Awarded
to rare and unusual species with educational interest. This award is
granted provisionally and filed with the judging center Chair pending
the exhibitor's supplying full taxonomic verification by a taxonomist
acceptable to the AOS. Click here
to link to the Web-site section detailing information regarding
AOS-approved taxonomists, which also includes instructions on obtaining
taxonomic verification.
CCM (Certificate of Cultural Merit) The
beginning orchid grower may hope to attain this award because it
recognizes the grower, rather than flower quality. The CCM/AOS may be
given more than once if the plant continues to thrive and increase in
both the size and number of flowers.
CCE (Certificate of Cultural Excellence) This
award further distinguishes growers of plants that exhibit an extreme
degree of skill in cultivation, having received 90 points or more on
the scale that has been used for the Certificate of Cultural Merit
(CCM).
CHM (Certificate of Horticultural Merit) Awarded
to a well-grown and well-flowered species or natural hybrid with
characteristics that contribute to the horticultural aspects of
orchidology, such as aesthetic appeal. This award is granted
provisionally and filed with the judging center Chair pending the
exhibitor's supplying full taxonomic verification by a taxonomist
acceptable to the AOS. Click here
to link to the Web-site section detailing information regarding
AOS-approved taxonomists, which also includes instructions on obtaining
taxonomic verification.
FCC (First Class Certificate) The highest flower-quality award, given to flowers scoring 90 points or more on a 100-point scale.
HCC (Highly Commended Certificate) The
HCC is granted to a flower scoring 75 to 79 points on a 100-point
scale. The great majority of awarded orchids receive this award, which
implies that, while the flower is outstanding, there is room for
improvement.
JC (Judges' Commendation) Given
for distinctive characteristics that the judges unanimously feel should
be recognized but cannot be scored in the customary ways.
