Catasetum xtapiriceps Jan Phal

[Bruno De Toni]

Thanks Ramon and Gena for your comments. I guess that with pictures we may find an answer sometime. Now I have a macrocarpum plant with two seed pods crossed with pileatum imperial and white pileatum, so it is a matter of waiting a couple of years to see the result of that breeding, then we can compare color and shapes.

[gixrj18]

You guys are much more educated on Catasetinae than I am, but do you guys take evolution into account when you are discussing these differences with macrocarpum and xtapiriceps? Especially ones that have spent generations in captive greenhouse environments? I'm not trying to question your identification ability, I just think a lot of people overlook the fact that these brilliant flowers are constantly evolving. Everybody swears up and down that Catasetums need a dry winter simply because that is what they require in the wild. Some of these plants haven't seen the wild in many generations. Do you really think plants that have been in humid greenhouses for many generations have any idea what their ancestors in the wild reqiuire? I know my catasetums get watered a lot, right along side of my Cattleyas, and at least once a week during the winter....and I get multiple spikes every year. My integerrimum, and controversial macrocarpum have several spikes starting like clockwork. I'm not trying to stray from the subject, I just think it is hard to hold small traits like that as an indefinite identifying mark of a species, when talking about a plant as diverse and adaptive as an orchid. Know what I mean?

[gixrj18]

Oh, and beautiful pictures.....by the way.

[Bruno De Toni]

Another venezuelan catasetinae expert coincides with Gena in considering this plant as a Pierre loti. Below is the picture he sent to me to make comparison. I still believe there are some diferences in the lip, the depression and petals, but knowing the shape variability of saccatum it has to be taken into account seriously. So I would like to hear your comments.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2520/...bc3bbd76_m.jpg

[kavanaru]

well... indeed some differences, but quite close... and supporting the thesis of saccatum/incurvum in it...

I did not know this cross... very nice!

[Gena]

Great, Bruno! Thanks a lot for the picture. And yes, definitely yes, here we are in the right direction! Of cause, there are some differences and it is not unexpected, isn't it? But, the total appearance of the flower this time feels right to me. Beautiful hybrid! Me want one .... badly!

[Bruno De Toni]

Thanks a lot to both of you guys, and yes I may have a Pierre loti var. Jan Phal (jejejeje), and definetively is one of the best hybrids I have now.

[Bruno De Toni]

Upssss, sorry Jan. This week I had also a reply from another good catasetinae collector (Xavier Caballero) and he thinks a strong pileatum influence in that plant.