C. walkeriana

[SouthPark]

This one arrived today by post, and I was surprised that the flowers were still fresh and nice. I was drawn to purchasing this one due to the elegance of the pink colours.

I'll take another pic of it tomorrow ---- when it is in the growing area - where the lighting will be better.

Google drive link (higher res) : Pic link

[SouthPark]

I forgot to add ------ some people out there will be familiar with the white bottle on the left-hand-side ------ the trusty Neutrogena oil free moisturiser for sensitive skin, non-comedogenic! It's about the only moisturiser out there that doesn't make my face go all red and irritated after using it heheh.

[SouthPark]

A few more nice photos taken this morning with good lighting for everyone to enjoy.

Google drive pics (higher res) :

Pic 1 link
Pic 2 link
Pic 3 link

[Diane56Victor]

Looks like its settled in well.

[Abe1997]

This is a beautiful flower! Congratulations on such a nice plant. I am not sure how important species verification is for you, but I am seeing some signs indicating this may not be 100% pure walkeriana.

In a clean walkeriana, the column will usually be fully exposed, here the column is slightly covered. In this same area you can see the part of the lip that surrounds the column is fringed with white. This is a big indicator that there is contamination with another species. Particularly lodigessii somewhere in the background. Pure walkeriana, especially tipo will only present color below the column on the lip. Even then, this color will be restricted to a small portion of the lip, the white may sometimes (in Coerulea varieties for example) extend the outer borders created by the column above, but never fringed around the column and the yellow will always be limited to a small stripe on the lip below the anther cap.

There is much confusion brought into walkeriana breeding by the clone “Pendentive” now understood to be a selfing of a wild collected x dolosa and it’s progeny such as “The Chairman,” “Estrella da Colina” and others which are hybrids rather than pure species. They feature heavily in the background of many Alba and tipo breeding programs, particularly in the USA. I cannot make a judgement if these early breeders acted in good faith or not in order to improve the progeny, however I think now that we are aware of these inconsistencies and contaminations we should make an effort to spot them when they come up.

[Shadeflower]

I wouldn't have even noticed it but there is quite a bit of veining on this one that is not seen on walkeriana's from what I can tell. I like the veining but Abe might be right

[SouthPark]

Abe and Shade ------ thanks for that nice discussion regarding the origins of this orchid here, and the very nice comments about this flower.

The tag has written on it :

C. walkeriana x sib (tipo 'Pink Lady' x flamea 'Hsinying')

I haven't yet done any scouting on those particular names --- to get some more ideas about the background. I will get around to that eventually though!

I thought it was a nice opportunity to grow an orchid that is linked to walkeriana. When I spotted this one ------ I purchased it right away. It was just the appearance of the flower of this one that made me purchase it. I made me buy it hehehe

I totally agree ------ that origins and history is very interesting in walkeriana --- in the way that there are lots of relatives out there these days, due to breeding/crossing etc. Incredibly interesting. And I can understand that some growers are specifically targeting 'pure' walkeriana ----- to grow them.

Originally Posted by Abe1997

In a clean walkeriana, the column will usually be fully exposed, here the column is slightly covered.

That's one of the reasons why I purchased this particular one. I like the appearance of catt-type orchid flowers that have side-lobes that are not fully splayed out ------ which I mentioned in these following posts :

Post 1
Post 2

I don't mean that I would never want to grow a pure walkeriana though.

This pink flowered one in this thread is the first catt type orchid I've had that is different from 'regular' catts ----- as in the flower spike didn't come out from the leaves or sheath. It came out from a 'leafless' growth.

Thanks again for posting Abe and Shade!

[SouthPark]

I had placed this pic in the potting/repotting section, and will add to this thread too for some nice colour contrast with a mini-catt called C. Rosella Spice 'Sunshine' x Rth. Mem. Warren Eggins

Google drive link (higher res) : Pic link