Peloric Cattleya or Mutant?

[Ethan]

This is Blc. Momilani Rainbow that I purchased a year ago. When I got it, the blooms were normal. It started spiking again a month or so ago and this is the first bud to open.

It has two extra petals/sepals!! What's going on here??

It's pretty, but I think you'll all agree this seems rather unusual...

[trdyl]

Extra parts do happen from time to time. I would not expect it on its next flowering.

[Ranchnanny]

Ethan its looks great and the colors are wonderful.

Sheridan

[tuvoc]

I agree with Ted, Ethan, strange things like this happen from time to time. It will probably be fine next time. Kind of cool, tho.

Kim

[Ethan]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I agree it is very cool. I think there's about 9 more buds to open so we'll see what they look like!

[Ethan]

Originally Posted by Jan Pahl

I agree with the rest...sometimes this not signifies that the plant is Peloric strictu sensu (year after year), but it could happens in many ways... for example

- us without knowing abuse with fertilization or hormones (that's why is so important periodically "clean" the media with copious running water).
- Also that could happen with some illness general (virotic plants, fungi or poor ph on the media)
- Sometimes is mechanical (insect attack during the development of the flower parts)
And
- Also that happens with plants that pass an environmental stress period wen the flower is developing.

This phenomenon is more easy to see in hybrids than in species simply because in hybrids their is much more chance that DNA strains are not coupling efficiently, and for them, some periodical "errors" could happen

By the way... Peloric is a form of mutation, so in that matter all peloric are mutants even is some of them are aesthetically pleasant wile the rest are catalogued as freaks or monsters.

Edit. (more info about pelorics)
their is a fashion of calling all aquinii, splash, flamea and so on as peloric, but in reality lets say to put it in round numbers that 90% of what we call aquinii are variegated, wile the rest are real pelorics. In hybrids the numbers change drastically to lets say 60/40 since "splash-petaled" Cattleya hybrids are normally descendants of C. intermedia aquinii a real peloric.

Thanks so much for the information, Jan! This is very informative and explains a lot. My 'mutation' could be attributed to insect damage as I have been battling thrips for some time now, however there appears to be no visible damage. The overall plant is in good health, and has only been in its potting medium for 10 months and shows no signs of residue buildup.

Your information explains a lot about pelorics that I didn't know - sounds like this could be genetic - I will have to wait and see what else I get from the remaining buds. Either way, the more I look at it, the prettier I find it - so I'm not complaining. Today, I noticed the fragrance just starting (smells delicious!)

Thanks again, this is all very interesting!!

[tuvoc]

Originally Posted by Ethan

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I agree it is very cool. I think there's about 9 more buds to open so we'll see what they look like!

Nine Buds?? Can't wait to see THAT!

Kim

[Ethan]

Originally Posted by Jan Pahl

Well I am glad to be useful. If insects are involved, It could happen if the mechanical damage occurs at very but early stage... I know it could happens with some beetles and specially weevils, but I guess that any insect that is capable to damage the flower in that particular way could produce similar results.

Variegations, and pleoric both are mutations, but are considered different.... Variegations are color breaks (or color enhancements,nomatter the color involved) that follows a pattern on Petals and/or sepals, wile peloric ones are real partial or total petals/sepals/lip repetitions on other flowerparts or are number addings to the normal 3-(2-1) flower sepal + petals (Lip included) number and spatial disposition...

Normally only the Peloric ones that repeat the lip on the petals are considered "aesthetically" pleasant... but you know... beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. On the other side, Variegated ones normally are only taken in to account the ones with purple with a pleasant shape and symmetry, otherwise are considered "flaws" with few exceptions.

That second post actually makes it much clearer - thanks! I never really understood what constituted a 'peloric'. You're quite the wealth of information, Jan!! Thanks!!