Cattleya walkeriana and nobilior -- down the rabbit hole

[MJG]

Great information, thanks so much!!

It sounds like the 'Pententive' issue hasn't been 100% agreed on yet after all. So it makes more sense that it's still being listed for sale as walkeriana.

The natural hybrid aspect really muddies the water, doesn't it? I hadn't even thought about that. How could you really know that a plant isn't a "true" walkeriana species unless it's a man-made hybrid.

I read about someone who bought a walkeriana, and noticed over time that it looked like a walkeriana but didn't exhibit the characteristic clinging roots. He decided it wasn't entirely walkeriana.

Maybe this makes it a more enigmatic orchid for me. Or maybe this happens a lot with other orchids too?! I'm going to chill out and enjoy the ride. Thanks for the link and the helpful buying references!!

[Subrosa]

I keep several nobilior in semi-hydro and don't find them to be particularly difficult. Supposedly they're prone to rot during dormancy, but I haven't had an issue with it.

[Fairorchids]

I have a C. Snowblind 'Kenny' (meristem). It does seem to grow slightly taller than true walkerianas.

[My Green Pets]

I have read and re-read that post by catwalker808 and I pick up some nuanced piece of info every time. I have been peeking into my grow tent at night and am paranoid that a few moments illuminated by the flashlight is going to mess up my walkeriana.

[SouthPark]

I like the style of flower such as from this example here ----- walkeriana orchidboard link

The sidelobes haven't opened out completely - not fully flared right out, which is quite nice. That's the kind I'm looking for hehe. Although, it is true that all orchid flowers and orchids are nice and wonderful!

[MJG]

Do all orchid species get so confusing? It seems like there are lots of reclassifications here.

SP, I love that one. A beauty!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by MJG

Do all orchid species get so confusing? It seems like there are lots of reclassifications here.

Probably not MJG. Definitely for this case ----- with walkeriana, I have seen a fair bit of post activity with grower discussions about all this.

I think that - if the flower features look something along the lines of papayj's flower, then that could be a nice base-line. Or anything that looks like the one in this link ----- in terms of shape of tepals, and lip.

[Keysguy]

Originally Posted by MJG

Do all orchid species get so confusing? It seems like there are lots of reclassifications here.

SP, I love that one. A beauty!

You know what they say, right? "Can't tell the players without a program".

There have been a TON of reclassifications over the past few years and I believe most, if not all of those, have been made based on DNA testing. Whereas the old method of observation and comparison was amazingly well done for how complex a job it was, it was inevitable that science would eventually find a better way to get the details nailed down and sorted out.

[SouthPark]

KG is right - in that DNA testing is being used these days for purposes of classification.

Unfortunately, there is no cheap and reliable and relatively quick and readily accessible way for people to do DNA testing. So much uncertainty can still remain ------ which also doesn't help when some orchid nurseries and growers put tags on orchids with a particular name when they're unsure about whether the orchid is indeed what they tag it as.

[isurus79]

Long story short, almost all walkeriana albas in the USA are hybrids. Also, Pendentive is only still a controversy in the USA. Brazil and Japan are solid in their stance that it's a hybrid, which is good enough for me.

Miranda just got some new plants in stock, including nobilior. H&R has amazing nobilior and walkeriana. There are some good representatives from both species on eBay on a fairly reliable basis.

Also, I'm not sure how I missed this thread for so long! These are two of my favorite species!