About the spotted Cattleya species

[K-Sci]

I like the look, heavy substance, flower longevity, brightly colored spade-shaped insect landing pads, bifoliate form, and most everything else about the spotted cattleya species; tigrina (leopoldii), guttata, schilleriana, aclandiae, amethystoglossa, schofieldiana, granulosa, velutina, and tenuis (who did I miss?).

Everyday plants for most of the spotted Cattleya species are not hard to find for sale, but it seems as though good clones are far less available than for the large-flowered Cattleya species. Are they overlooked by the AOS judges, or are the best clones held more closely by their breeders?


-Keith

[SouthPark]

There are some very nice spotted catt hybrids too. All orchids are very nice - but we know what we mean!

[estación seca]

This is only a guess. Some of those become very large plants. A lot of Cattleya growers prefer to have more, smaller plants. A lot of Cattleya growers prefer floofy unifoliates. So breeders tend not to offer them.

Sunset Valley Orchids offers bifoliate Catt species regularly. They are almost always bred from awarded plants. Sometimes divisions of breeding stock are offered.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

There are some very nice spotted catt hybrids too. All orchids are very nice - but we know what we mean!

Not all. I'm not a big fan of holomycotrophic orchids, such as Gastrodia agnicellus, which was first described last year.

I'm primarily a species collector, but I've been compelled to get two spotted hybrids to satisfy my spotted flower habit; Cattleya Caudebec `Linwood' and Rhyncholaeliocattleya Sun Spots 'Waiomao's Golden Leopard.' I can't explain why I like spotted flowers, which really bothers me, but I do.

-Keith

---------- Post added at 11:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:12 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

This is only a guess. Some of those become very large plants. A lot of Cattleya growers prefer to have more, smaller plants. A lot of Cattleya growers prefer floofy unifoliates. So breeders tend not to offer them.

I think you're right, with the possible exceptions of C. leopoldii (tigrina) 'SanBar Giant' FCC/AOS and C. Caudebec 'Linwood' AM/AOS, which are not hard to find.

Sunset Valley Orchids offers bifoliate Catt species regularly. They are almost always bred from awarded plants. Sometimes divisions of breeding stock are offered.

I just bought a C. intermedia 'Boa Vista' division from SVO that tested positive for cymMV. Fred doesn't have another, and I'm struggling to find an alternate plant. I don't have enough room to grow out seedlings seeking to get an exceptional plant and flower, so I mostly purchase named plants or plants where I can see the flower. Fred has a lot of orchids with no available photo, but if you (or anyone) known of a spotted Cattleya he has that I might have missed, I'm open to suggestions.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by K-Sci

I'm primarily a species collector, but I've been compelled to get two spotted hybrids to satisfy my spotted flower habit;

I also give priority to species but I have a spotted Catt. Not sure if it would satisfy you...it blooms twice a year, large flowers, fragrant...

[Fairorchids]

Estacion Seca is pretty much describing the situation. I have 10-20 customers looking for mini/compact plants, for each one looking for the two foot+ plants (and some can be five feet tall with the inflorescence).

Also, most of the species only bloom once a year, while some of the hybrids can bloom twice a year.

I admit, while I have both, I am more interested in hybrids than species (with the exception of loddigesii & intermedia, both of which can carry speckling). I am growing several dozen Fred Clarke seedlings to BS for selection of superior flowers, so eventually I should have some divisions for sale. The most recent selection is:

[SouthPark]

I'm a fan of spotted catts as well. I have a couple of aclandiae plants - which haven't flowered before, as they're working towards maturity - so hopefully get some flowers soon to see what they look like!

But - the nice thing is that other spotted catts - hybrids - have flowered before over here.

The C. Caudabec Candy has interesting colours and patterns ----- with pics posted at : C. Caudabec Candy

And also C. Lulu Land also had nice flowers.

I'm a fan of both hybrids and species.

[K-Sci]

Spotted large-flowered fantasy Cattleya.


---------- Post added at 03:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 PM ----------

Originally Posted by rbarata

I also give priority to species but I have a spotted Catt. Not sure if it would satisfy you...it blooms twice a year, large flowers, fragrant...

I like that one, it looks a lot like a C. Caudebec.
-Keith

[Fairorchids]

Interesting concept. I actually have two seed pods in the lab, which are aiming for that type of flowers.

The pod parent is a cross between C. Motte Spot and Rlc. Hilo Grand (a corsage type). This plant actually has light stippling on all flower segment.

I then pollinated it with two of my best spotted hybrids.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

I am growing several dozen Fred Clarke seedlings to BS for selection of superior flowers, so eventually I should have some divisions for sale. The most recent selection is:

That flower is a lot like one I have, Blc. Sun Spot 'Waianai Golden Leopard' (right side), but yours (left)has a better shape. The lateral sepals are too short and the sepals are narrower on "Waianai Golden Leopard', though the former isn't apparent in my photo.