Catasetum pileatum var. album - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Bruno De Toni · #11 08-31-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gena

Now another plant is in flower. This one I bought in early spring this year from Venezuela and it is its first flowering in my place. I have to say I’m a bit suspicious about its labellum …. Others, which I do have, have more flat labellum than this one …..

Very attractive plant Gena but let me tell you that this one is xtapiriceps and not pileatum. You were right to be suspicious of the labellum, but in any case this flower is spectacular. The xtapiriceps (or splendends which is really the original name that I like) is very variable in shape and in colors and something incredible to think that happens is that depending of the climate conditions can make change in shape year by year. By the way do you mind to tell me which is the cultivar who sells you the plants here in Venezuela ???

Bruno De Toni · #12 08-31-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gena

Thank you so very much guys!

Well, Bruno, there are quite a numbers of colour forms of Catasetum pileatum and this one is white, so ....
If I remember correctly, it is exactly white form of Catasetum pileatum was chosen as a national flower of Venezuela until 1921, isn't it?

Yes you are right. It was the national flower until 1947 if I am not wrong and was changed to cattleya mossiae since pileatums were reported also in Colombia and Brazil.

Gena · #13 08-31-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruno De Toni

Very attractive plant Gena but let me tell you that this one is xtapiriceps and not pileatum. You were right to be suspicious of the labellum, but in any case this flower is spectacular. The xtapiriceps (or splendends which is really the original name that I like) is very variable in shape and in colors and something incredible to think that happens is that depending of the climate conditions can make change in shape year by year.

Bruno, thanks a lot for conformation of plants ID. I did not have enough carriage to name it splendens directly, because I bought it as pileatum. And you are absolutely right – they are extremely variable, so …. Anyway, once again, Bruno, thanks a lot!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruno De Toni

By the way do you mind to tell me which is the cultivar who sells you the plants here in Venezuela ???

Of course, Bruno! I bought these plants from Alejandro Abrante (Rio Caura Orchids) when he visited Germany this year in March. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful plants, one of the best I ever bought!

Gena · #14 09-01-2009, 05:42 AM

Jan, thank you so much for bringing up such interesting information and discussion about this amazing specie!
Well, both you and Bruno convince me about alba form of pileatum. I fully agree with you that may be it is not very correct to use var. alba in the name just because as you said it is a characteristic colour for type form of the specie. On the other hand we still do have yellow form of pileatum or, as you mentioned above pure green form from Brazilian Amazon basin and so on, just as example. Don’t you think they should be distinguished from the type by using varietals names?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan Pahl

I forgot to quote that today Catasetum × dunstervillei is believed to be roseo-album x tapiriceps, not discolor x pileatum... that's why I previously quote that dunstervilei normaly don't produce the very pileatum "identical" flowers some tapiriceps x pileatum does in introgretic zones

Great information about Catasetum × dunstervillei! Because at RHS it is registered as Catasetum discolor x Catasetum pileatum. Thank you, Jan!

Gena · #15 09-01-2009, 06:16 AM

Now Catasetum pileatum is blooming for the second time. This time like that:

Bruno De Toni · #16 09-01-2009, 10:15 AM

Is amazing how this specie can change flower shape in each blooming. That´s why I like very much catasetinaes is a pandora box, there are so many things we do not understand from these plants that makes them as the most interesting among orchids.

Bruno De Toni · #17 09-01-2009, 10:20 AM

Jan you did a very good job summarizing the ideas we have now about the distribution and natural hybridization of piletaums, is a complex and poorly understood matter.