hybrid derived from C. mossiae?

[piping plover]

Unlike my other NOID cattleya that I finally got identified after 30 years (LC. MOONWIND ‘MT. MADONNA’ (Lc. Eva Shill x Lc. Elizabeth Off) this large white one below will always remain a NOID.

It was sold in 1980s in a garden shop in those typical 2” pots with plastic mesh (onion bag like) that are attractively packaged to the general public. No name given. Being spring blooming, white, sepals pulled back in opposite direction of petals and lip, unifoliate, super reliable bloomer, sets sheathes in August that dry/become papery in late winter and blooms in April —is it Likely a hybrid derived from C. mossiae? I’m trying to get an idea of species it would have derived from.

[Clawhammer]

Looks like c. Bow Bells or c. Bob Betts

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

Looks like c. Bow Bells or c. Bob Betts

I think you're right

[piping plover]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

Looks like c. Bow Bells or c. Bob Betts

Ah, thanks for providing those leads. Beautiful varieties with a fascinating history on both of them. Mine blooms in springtime and I’m reading that these varieties are fall bloomers? Anyone know if those two varieties actually bloom in northern hemisphere springtime (April)?

[smweaver]

Its petals are slightly "droopy," which is one of the (supposedly negative) traits of Cattleya mossiae's blooms. I, for one, find the large and often floppy mossiae blooms to be perfection. The plant itself also looks like--and I don't mean this as a criticism--an unkempt beast. Cattleya mossiae is not a dainty grower, and in my experience it can also become something of a sprawling mess. If you've ever seen a well-grown plant of Cattleya Bob Betts, you'll understand what I mean.

Are the flowers fragrant? Cattleya mossiae has extravagantly scented blooms, as do many of its hybrids. And the timing of sheath production in the fall, along with the winter rest followed by bloom production in the late winter/early spring are also a good indicator that mossiae may have a respectable amount of influence in your hybrid's background.

Congratulations on the blooms. They're fantastic.

[piping plover]

Originally Posted by smweaver

Its petals are slightly "droopy," which is one of the (supposedly negative) traits of Cattleya mossiae's blooms. I, for one, find the large and often floppy mossiae blooms to be perfection. The plant itself also looks like--and I don't mean this as a criticism--an unkempt beast. Cattleya mossiae is not a dainty grower, and in my experience it can also become something of a sprawling mess. If you've ever seen a well-grown plant of Cattleya Bob Betts, you'll understand what I mean.

Are the flowers fragrant? Cattleya mossiae has extravagantly scented blooms, as do many of its hybrids. And the timing of sheath production in the fall, along with the winter rest followed by bloom production in the late winter/early spring are also a good indicator that mossiae may have a respectable amount of influence in your hybrid's background.

Congratulations on the blooms. They're fantastic.

Thank you! Real helpful observations there and that leads me to believe that my mossiae assumption is correct. Yes, I agree with you on the floppy petals—I think they add to the beauty of the blooms. And the unkempt beast—lol—it truly is. When I finally divide this I will commit one division to the classic staked single lead style and the others can remain an unruly mess.

Absolutely, the fragrance is like the sweetest garden lily, very pleasant. The other sheath bloomed and it’s hanging pendulous like a stanhopea or something.

[smweaver]

Originally Posted by piping plover

The other sheath bloomed and it’s hanging pendulous like a stanhopea or something.

Cattleya mossiae usually can hold its head of blooms up without much support (not quite to the same ramrod soldier stance as the spike of C. warscewiczii, but respectably close). Its hybrids, on the other hand, often have very heavy blooms that need some assistance with displaying them if you want to view them "head on." The nice thing is that your hanging stanhopea-esque flower spike will last a heck of a lot longer than any real stanhopea's could ever hope for.