A  Any patent relating to the basic cloning process is now in the public do main. Many aspects of the procedure relating to media and laboratory technique will be kept secret by the various laboratories, as it gives them a competitive ad vantage. However, a number of patented (protected) orchids, which will usually be associated with a label that identifies their patent number and patent name, are avail able in the United States trade. Propagation of these varieties may either be restricted totally to the patent owner or may necessitate entering into a propagation agreement with the patent owner and payment of royalties. I personally believe it is unethical to clone and sell another breeder’s orchid, especially if the clones are not made from a piece of the original mother plant, because the potential for unattractive, mutated offspring is high. But many nurseries engage in the practice. Consider, for example, Beallara Marfitch ‘Howard’s Dream’, AM/AOS. The original, of which I have a plant, will regularly produce 3-foot-plus stems of 16—20 large, plum-purple flowers. None of the meristems currently available achieve any thing like this on a typical flowering.

To answer the second part of your question, there is no industry-wide clearing house for flasks that I am aware of. Flasks tend to be sold in the wholesale trade mainly, though advertisers in Orchids do offer flasks, often in smaller hobbyist sizes, as most backyard growers would find 25 plants of one cross or clone a bit of a handful. Also, you might, if you are seeking flasks of a particular orchid, make your wishes known on one of the forums like Orchid Guide Digest and you may be surprised by the response. Orchid growers are generous and helpful. - Andy Easton