Cattleya Amabilis (1904)
Over the years, I have often wondered about what the original early breeding hybrids looked like, and whether we might do better with line bred parents (or at least superior plants identified over the subsequent 100+ years).
Most breeders are not interested in going this route, but occasionally you find someone giving it a try. Two years ago, at Dave Off's backyard sale, I found some seedlings of Cattleya Amabilis (1904).
When I checked on the RHS web site, I found that there are two hybrids with this name (one was originally a Lc.), so they are now identified with their individual year of registration.
These seedlings were produced with: C. warscewiczii, forma alba, 'Kimberly' x C. labiata, forma semi-alba, 'Buddy' (I have to check with Dave to find out who the breeder is). The first just bloomed; the top sepal recurves, but otherwise a nice flower.
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Kim (Fair Orchids)
Founder of SPCOP (Society to Prevention of Cruelty to Orchid People), with the goal of barring the taxonomists from tinkering with established genera!
I am neither a 'lumper' nor a 'splitter', but I refuse to re-write millions of labels.
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