catasetum species

[kavanaru]

wow, veekay, that's the most amazing Ctsm. pileatum I have ever seen (besides, Ctsm. pileatum var. imperialis 'Pierre Couret' - Yes, I know, but I do not accept that imperialis is a separate species, it makes no sense for me)

[kavanaru]

Actually, xtapiriceps is a very complex hybrids with plant in teh whole gradient between very close to pileatum to very close to macrocarpum. I would not consider this plant as a xtapiriceps!

[orchideric]

Dear Susanne,

Ignore the internet and look at the flower in the lower lefthand corner of the first page of the article cited. There is no question that the plant is a natural hybrid since purple does not occur in C. pileatum.

Eric

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by cb977

When doing a search for Catasetum x tapiriceps, I find these:
Catasetum x tapiriceps

None of these look like the beauty veekay posted

Sue, to be honest I have my problems thinking the plant in this link is indeed a xtapiriceps....

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by orchideric

Dear Susanne,

Ignore the internet and look at the flower in the lower lefthand corner of the first page of the article cited. There is no question that the plant is a natural hybrid since purple does not occur in C. pileatum.

Eric

Hi Eric,, I know Ctsm. pileatum from the wild... and YES purple is found in Cts, pileatum... although I must accept that the issue is more complex than that, and a lot of people (me included) accept that purple is coming from macrocarpum genes in the plant. Never the less, many of the plants accepted as Ctsm. pileatum has purple to some extent...

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by veekay

Thank you for the information,this plant came from Venezula, an a dn. of the plant was give to me by my friend C.Mac. who is owener of the plant.
I will tell you the story when I went to venezuela in 94 I bought a catsm.pileatum A x P, from Alexis.
I did cross with catsm pileatum 'shafina' xcatsm.pileatum
A X P. and flowered two seedlings,the have give me superb flower.
rgards
veekay

Veekay, you say this plant is from Venezuela? where exactly from? I know Ctsm. pileatum from Venezuela, as I spent most of my childhood in the Ctsm. pileatum region, and have never seen something like that before (which does not mean it is not possible!)

[camille1585]

Thanks for the close ups Veekay, the blooms are amazing!

[cb977]

Originally Posted by orchideric

Dear Susanne,

Ignore the internet and look at the flower in the lower lefthand corner of the first page of the article cited. There is no question that the plant is a natural hybrid since purple does not occur in C. pileatum.

Eric

How can I get to the actual article? I'd love to see the photo you mention here.

There seems to be so much confusion when it comes to Ctsm pileatum...I'd love to learn more about it.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Sue, to be honest I have my problems thinking the plant in this link is indeed a xtapiriceps....

I admit to knowing nothing about this plant. Remember telling me the one I posted as Ctsm pileatum wasn't really that plant? This species seems to be surrounded in mystery and speculation. I posted links to all the sites I found while researching that cross but...I have no clue

[kavanaru]

Hi Sue, the Problem with pileatum, macrocarpum and xtapiriceps is quite complex. and you have the whole gradient in forms and colours between "pure white" pileatum to typical macrocarpum. There are many plants recognized as pileatum which indeed has purple in it. However, there is a lot debate and it is widely accepted that these purple could come from interbreeding with macrocarpum (which would make it a xtapiriceps?), but xtapiriceps on the other hand is a pool pf plants including the primary hybrid pileatum x macrocarpum, as well as all sort of back crosses between all 3 plants and their siblings. To make it more complicated, plants called xtapiriceps appears also in regions where you definitely do NOT have pileatum (how can this be?). Even the story with Ctsm. imperialis, whch has been "recently" given the species status is quite controversial (for me in particular this plant is a variety of pileatum, found only in a "tiny" region in Venezuela. No Matter what some books and websites say, it does NOT exist in Brazil! it cold be possible in Colombia, as the region is next to the border to this country - howeevr, I do not know any fiable reference of of this plant found there either)

Generally, all plants that look like pileatum (white, white with purple/red spots, yellow, white with yellow, white with some extent of red, green, etc) are considered as Ctsm. pileatum.

As for the plant shown here, it really looks like pileatum. I have never seen a pileatum with that colour pattern (which does not mean it does not exist!) To be honest, it really looks (to me at leats) like one of those complex Ctsm. Hybrids which look very close in shape to pileatum (Jumbo Orchids, Orchidglade and Sunset Valley Orchids have many of them), However, I would never consider this plant as xtapiriceps (this is my visceral opinion, which I consider quite valid, as I think the opinion of most botanist and aficionates to these 3 plants is always very visceral when considering what belongs where!)

what confuses me is that it is mentioned this particular plant is coming from Venezuela... I grew up in the region of pileatum, including also the region of var. imperiale (I also had the honor to see the first 'Pierre Couret'!), but I have nevers seen a plant with that color-pattern...

and as per our very last comment.. I think nobody has a real clue regarding these complex "pileatum - xtapiriceps - splendens - macrocarpum - var. imperiale)