Cattleyas with branching inflorescences

[Fairorchids]

Over the years I have seen occasional branching flower spikes, primarily on intergeneric plants with either Brassavola nodosa or Broughtonia sanguinea in the family tree.

I just came across a surprise in the greenhouse. I have had a Rhyncattleanthe Cape Scarlet Glow for 4 years, which I divided into 4 pcs this spring. While a single plant, it always produced normal single stem flower spikes, typically with 7 flowers each.

This year, two of the divisions are producing branched flower spikes (two side branches from each main stem), with 4-5 buds on each stem. Obviously, there can't be nodosa or sanguinea in the family tree of this plant.

However, with a little digging, we find that it has two Cattleya species in the family tree, which formerly were rupiculous Laelias. And that is where occasional branching spikes come from.