Has anyone ever heard of this cross?

[SOS]

C. (Im not ready to type Guarianthe just yet) aurantiaca X S. cernua?

I was thinking the other day that using 2 4N parents might get actual plants out of them since cernua isnt really related that closely to the other Sophronitis and aurantiaca isnt really close to the Cattleyas. However, bringing down aurantiacas size but still maintaining the same flower count (using a pterocarpa maybe for higher flower count) and preserving some color and shape.

I have seen a couple S. cernua hybrids, notably Slc. Bright Angel x S cernua and it turned out like a giant cernua pretty much. I have some moderate amount of interest and hope to do this and any advice, comments, or commitment to buy seedlings would be appreciated!!

[trdyl]

According to the RHS International Orchid Register it has not been registered yet.

[isurus79]

OW does not have it either.

[Royal]

That cross sounds interesting. A word of caution though:

Many plants are claimed to be tetraploid but really are not. Some growers are doing colchicine conversions and assuming that the larger plants from the converted population are 4N. These plants are released as "4N" plants, but without confirming this by counting the chromosomes, it is really just a guess. We cannot depend on these claims, or we risk making matters worse by making more and more dead-end triploid hybrids.


If the species are compatible, standard diploid plants should produce viable seed. Doubling the genetic material won't affect the compatibility, but it may increase the likelihood of a random, unnatural combination.

[trdyl]

SOS, You may not be ready to type Guarianthe yet but if a cross like this gets registered under the present rules it will be a Cattlianthe since cernua is now a Cattleya.

[SOS]

C cernua should have stayed Sophronitis.

Using diploid parents on both seems like it would work, but even then I would try to colchine treat a part of them.

[PaphMadMan]

Originally Posted by SOS

C cernua should have stayed Sophronitis.

C. cernua could have stayed Sophronitis, but it was the only one that could.

[PaphMadMan]

C. cernua hybrids have been registered from Guarianthe bowringiana (= Ctt. Schoenbrunnensis), and several Cattlianthe hybrids descended from Gur. aurantiaca (= Ctt. Seagull's Gumdrop, Forest Kramer, etc.) There's no reason the cross shouldn't work, and you may be able to find pictures of those similar crosses.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by SOS

Using diploid parents on both seems like it would work, but even then I would try to colchine treat a part of them.

Sounds like a good plan. If you can get set up to do conversions, then you should also get set up to do your own counts to confirm ploidy of the treated population. Doing only the conversions, and releasing uncounted plants would be irresponsible. Just my .