Spotted catts = spotted leaves?

[Alia]

I've noticed that a lot of pictures of spotted catts show scattered black/brown dots on the foliage. A baggie baby spotted catt I picked up at Lowes has the same thing. http://www.orchidboard.com/community...cratchhead.gif
Is this a normal feature of the leaves in these varieties, or is it pathological?

Thanks!

Alia

[Orchonubee]

I hope someone replies with a good, detailed answer to your post. I have the same concern with my cats. I can recognize burn from sun, but these are not sun burn.

[gmdiaz]

I would have thought this was sunburn. . .

[Dekejis]

I have lots of spotted catts (I adore spots!) and most all of them have spots on their leaves. I also have a few Cattleya aclandiaes, and three out of four have leaf spots (the fourth has no spots, but it is a coerulea, and I'm not sure if that makes a difference in leaf pigmentation)
I also have one plant, an Slc Precious Beauty, that I'm pretty sure isn't spotted (has one bud that will hopefully open in the next week, so I'll get to see the flower then), but is totally covered in the same kind of spots all over the newest growths and even a little on the outside of the bud. I'm not sure what the parentage is on this plant, perhaps if something like aclandiae is in the background somewhere, it might lend leaf spots?
Personally, I *love* the spots on the leaves! I get visual interest even when the plant isn't blooming.
Dana

[isurus79]

Catts with spotted flowers (such as aclandiae, amethystoglossa or Lulu) do tend to have spotted leaves. A lot of the spotted Catts live in fairly high light situations and I believe that the spots help protect the cholorphyll from sun damage (I wonder if some of out official plant biologists could back me up..... or shoot me down!!), just like the red coloring that some orchids get in high light situations. I like the spots personally. Plain Jane green gets boring after a while!! Of course, this is not to say that some spots could very well be pathological. Spotted Catts get the same diseases as their non spotted bretheren. If you're really worried, post pics and you'll have the usual input by our friendly neighborhood orchidboard experts!! I hope this helps!

[minicatt]

leaves that are spotted and pitted are usually a sign of trouble. If the leaf is smooth and the spots are basically colored dots on the leaves, that is genetic. Since many spotted catts have C. aclandiae in the background, it is totally normal for the hybrids to have spotted leaves!
On your Slc. Precious Beauty, it just so happens that C. aclandiae is way in the background of one of its parents--Slc. Bright Angel.
Peter.

[Dekejis]

Here are a couple of my mini-catts that have spotted leaves:

First is Lc Jungle Gem 'Very Nice' x Lc. Lucky Charms 'SVO'


And here is my Slc Precious Jewel 'One Fine Day' x self
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/...ed673f.jpg?v=0
(larger versions can be found here)

[Dekejis]

My Slc. Precious Jewel opened today - the description of this selfing indicated I should expect a solid red flower. Gotta love genetics
I posted a few pics of the flower to this thread.

[Don Perusse]

I'm certainly no expert but must say I have about 50 plus Cats or Cat Crosses and NONE of them have the spots as you have pictured. It looks to me like there is something wrong with them tho I don't know what.

[Dekejis]

Hi Don,
I'd say it would depend on what's in the background of the catts you're growing. I've found, going back through my collection after reading the responses to this thread, that all but one plant in my collection with aclandiae in the background have spots (the exception is the other Precious Jewel, and I will be looking for it to bloom w/o spots); and since I'm a huge fan of spots, that's a lot of my plants. Conversely, 0% of my plants that don't have spots/aclandiae in the background have spots on the leaves (and I grow under the same conditions for all).
Anyway, hope this helps!

Oops, I take that back, I also have Slc Bright Angel 'OC', which does not have spots on flowers or leaves, but has aclandiae in the background.