Cattleya x dolosa coerulea

[JungleJo]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

so why is the name cattleya x dolosa

when the cross is C walkeriana x c loddigesii?

Is the name just X Dolosa? (x being included in the name)

This explains a little bit:
IOSPE PHOTOS

It could also be a C Heathii like I just learned in this thread :-)

Anyway, it was sold to me as a dolosa.

[Shadeflower]

dolosa is a better name.

If you start calling it healthii people might think it's this instead Cattleya Heathii 2

[SouthPark]

True! Just go with C. walkeriana x C. loddigesii ..... aka C. Heathii

If in doubt - just pop in the full cross C. walkeriana x C. loddigesii

Excellent point Shade about Heathii 2 ...... naming gets a bit out of hand these days for some cases haha ----- that 1907 one.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

so why is the name cattleya x dolosa

when the cross is C walkeriana x c loddigesii?

Is the name just X Dolosa? (x being included in the name)

For some reason, some Cattleyas get a wild hybrid name, denoted with an "x" before the lower case name (e.g. x dolosa). The artificial hybrid then gets a separate name with a capitalized name (e.g. Heathii). Cattleya x mesquitae (nobilior x walkeriana) also has a domesticated counterpart called C. Brazilian Jewel. I'm not sure how this select group of hybrids got separate names for wild vs. cultured crosses while other don't.

[Anglo]

Those are absolutely spectacular flowers!

Cattleya dolosa is a species by definition. It apparently originated as a natural hybrid, but is genetically stable in uniform wild populations after multiple generations. It is listed as a species with no "x" in the Cattleya books written by both Carl Withner and Guido Braem.

In J.A. Fowlie's Brazilian Bifoliate Cattleyas, it is listed as Cattleya x dolosa. Fowlie is less firm about concluding that a natural hybrid can be regarded as a genuine species.

The "x" is all a matter of how people want to categorize it, but the general rule is that the artificial cross of C. loddigessi and C. walkeriana is Cattleya Heathii, and the natural hybrid is Cattleya dolosa. The biological difference between the two is the genetic stabilization of C. dolosa and the lack thereof in C. Heathii.

[isurus79]

Anglo,
You're back!! Good to see you!

Originally Posted by Anglo

In J.A. Fowlie's Brazilian Bifoliate Cattleyas, it is listed as Cattleya x dolosa. Fowlie is less firm about concluding that a natural hybrid can be regarded as a genuine species.

This is my favorite orchid book of all time!! It's one part adventure book and one part taxonomic work.

[Anglo]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Anglo,
You're back!! Good to see you!

And nice to see you too, Stephen. I've watched your videos, but haven't been around here on the forum for a long time.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Anglo

And nice to see you too, Stephen. I've watched your videos, but haven't been around here on the forum for a long time.

Hopefully you’ll be here more often!