C. nobilior fma tipo 'White Flame'

[catwalker808]

I went to a show several weeks ago & took 20-30 C walkerianas & a few C nobiliors as luggage. Some were in bloom, but many were in large buds and opened in our cool but nicely sunlit hotel room. They stayed in the room for a few days and gradually opened. A few days into the 10 day show, I noticed something very unusual about one of the C. nobiliors.

The color was tipo, however, it had very noticeable white flame markings on both petals and all of the sepals. Very symmetrical white flames. The lighting wasn't very good in my sales booth, so the flames are not as clear in the photo as they were to the eye, especially when backlit.

The photo color isn't exactly true because of the lighting. I also had to fiddle with the photo a little to show the white flames. The flower color is darker, with very visible contrasting flames. I had to lighten the flower to show the flames better in my poorly lit photo.

From my experience with my Cattleya species and what I have seen in various growing conditions, I believe that my C. nobilior's color & markings were influenced by the relatively cool conditions they encountered (with sufficient light). Under the much lesser light at the show, the intensity of the markings diminished after about a week (to what you see in the photo.)

[isurus79]

Harry,
Is this the first time you have noticed color differences on nobilor due to temperature? I know you have spoken/written about color changes in walkerianas because of temperature. Also, do your nobilors bloom 2x per year, like the walkerianas?

[ChrisFL]

Harry,

this is EASILY my favorite plant you posted thus far. Thanks!!! Great info to boot.

Chris

[catwalker808]

Thanks Chris.

Isurus. I have noticed temp induced color differences in various cat flowers. One reason I have noticed them more with C walkeriana is just the sheer number of plants I have seen blooming in warm, intermediate and very cold conditions. Temp changes definitely affect colors on the same plant.

I have seen fewer of our own nobilior plants blooming under variable conditions. C. walkeriana grows quickly for us, so I have had divisions of the same plant bloom here and also in very cold climates. C nobilior grows slower & thus I have had fewer opportunities to compare divisions of the same plant, growing here and elsewhere. In addition, I have had fewer opportunities to visit cold climates during nobilior blooming season.

But I don't know why nobilior flowers should react any differently to temp changes.