Hybrid orchids named after Raja Nazrin and Zara

‘Royal orchid’: The Dendrobium Tuanku Zara Salimbeing displayed at the 7th Ipoh International OrchidFestival in Sungai Siput yesterday.

SUNGAI SIPUT: The Ipoh Orchid Society has unveiled two hybrid orchids named after the Raja Muda of Perak and his wife at the seventh Ipoh International Orchid Festival here. 

The two orchids - Dendrobium Raja Nazrin Shah and Dendrobium Tuanku Zara Salim – were named in honour of Tuanku Zara’s impending visit to the festival at Ladang Infoternak here tomorrow. 

Society secretary S. Rajah, the proud floriculturist of the pair of “royal orchids”, is no stranger when it comes to cultivating new hybrids. 

He has previously crossbred hybrids and named them in honour of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the Taiping Municipal Council and even the Year of the Rooster. 

“It took me four years to cultivate the Dendrobium Raja Nazrin Shah. The Dendrobium Tuanku Zara Salim took me three years,” he said. 

The international orchid festival, from July 6 to 11, is being held in conjunction with the Perak Agrofest 2007 and the Perak Carnival 2007. 

Rajah said Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and Thailand were expected to take part in the festival.