Catasetum pileatum var. album

[Gena]

Another of my favourites is in flow now - Catasetum pileatum var. album. Here it is.

[kinknstein]

Oooh very nice Gena!!!

[RosieC]

Wonderful flowers. I've never seen one like that before.

[Rosim_in_BR]

What a wonderful sight! Can't wait for mine to bloom (in a year or two, if I am skilled enough to make it bloom and don't kill it before that!)

[Bruno De Toni]

Impressive display, really beatifull. Why do you name it album ???. As far as I know the white variety is the true pileatum, actually here it is called 'flor de nacar' (in english would be something like this: mother pearl flower). The inner part of the shell resembles very much the labelum of the white pileatum. By the way if you compare this flower arrange with the other plant you posted last week you may say that these two pileatums are different and not only for the color but for the number of flower and the way they are displayed in the spikes.

[Gena]

Thank you so very much guys!

Originally Posted by Bruno De Toni

Why do you name it album ???. As far as I know the white variety is the true pileatum, actually here it is called 'flor de nacar' (in english would be something like this: mother pearl flower). The inner part of the shell resembles very much the labelum of the white pileatum.

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?

[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 …..

[Bruno De Toni]

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 ???

[Gena]

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!!!

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!

[Bruno De Toni]

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.