Catt blooming piccys? :)

[Kimbubbley]

Hi, sorry i haven't got any Catt bloom pics to show (yet!) ... was wondering if anyone had pics of the PB as it matures to flower?... or the flower sheath as it sprouts? Just wondering what i should be looking for?

Mine is at the point where the PB sheath on the newest growth is drying and becoming papery... the PB seems to be fattening slowly

There is also a new shoot from the bottom of this PB... does this grow to to form more of the rhyzome before becoming the next new PB and leaf?

Is the plant capable of growing AND blooming... or do they focus their energy on maturing and the current PB then becomes a back bulb?

Lots of questions i know! daftest question of all probably...

How do i decipher Sophronitis Purpurata 'Treasure of Carpinteria'' AM/AOS x var. werkhauseri ?? The least i can do is actually learn exactely what it is im looking at

Thanks

K

[WhiteRabbit]

I have one pushing buds thru the sheath now - I'll try to get a pic.
Not all Catts produce sheaths - some go straight to buds - and I have one that sometimes gets sheaths, sometimes not (an inter-generic hybrid).

Also when they grow can vary, depending on the species, or parents if a hybrid - my one that sometimes gets sheaths, other times doesn't, always seems to be growing regardless if it's spiking, blooming, whatever ... seems to always have new leads - and also blooms frequently (blooming now, 3rd time since November)

your plant is now Cattleya purpurata - a species. werkhauserri is a naturally occurring variety, and I would guess that Treasure of Carpinteria could be a man-made variety, or is a purpurata hybrid

purpuratas do usually produce sheaths I believe (mine have anyway) - summer to fall blooming
more info here IOSPE PHOTOS

I'll try to get some pix, tho others may have some to post for you before I do that

[glengary54]

Kim,
Your plant is actually Laelia purpurata, it was made by crossing Laelia purpurata 'Treasure of Carpinteria' AM/AOS x Laelia purpurata var. werkhauseri, which are two different varieties of Laelia purpurata. Also, Laelia purpurata normally puts out a large sheath on a bulb that is going to bloom.

[glengary54]

I take that back, I forgot that all the Brazilian Laelias were reclassified as Cattleyas. Which makes your plant Cattleya purpurata.

[Kimbubbley]

Thank u for the info! when I first got her I googled sophronitis (as u do ) and mostly found much smaller plants that didn't resemble mine or it's growing conditions at all... Plus lots of rather heated debate about how purpurata should never have been linked to Soph.

But from my understanding, there are laelia (sorry trying to remember spelling while sending from my phone!) and cattleya purpurata, and that the laelia flower appears to be much fuller than the cattleya... From my limited understanding! Lol

I've looked up both variations in mine from WhiteRabbits link and it appears one has a blue lip and the other more magenta... So I'm looking forward to seeing the effect of the cross

Can u tell me what the AM/AOS means? I believe AOS stands for American Orchids Society... Not sure about the AM... and I'm guessing it means that the hybrid cross (if that's the right terminology) is recognised as distinct by these societies?

Kim x

[glengary54]

Kim,
It is an award given by the America Orchid Society for flower quality. There are three types of quality awards;
HCC (Highly Commended Certificate)
Awarded to orchid species or hybrids scoring 75 to 79 points inclusive on a 100-point scale.

AM (Award of Merit)
Awarded to orchid species or hybrids scoring 80 to 89 points inclusive on a 100-point scale.

FCC (First Class Certificate)
The highest flower-quality award, awarded to orchid species or hybrids scoring 90 points or more on a 100-point scale.

[Kimbubbley]

WOW!

So my little Catt has and Award Merit from the American Orchid Society? Cool!

I take it they are originally cross pollenated, then the most successful are cloned?

[glengary54]

Originally Posted by Kimbubbley

WOW!

So my little Catt has and Award Merit from the American Orchid Society? Cool!

I take it they are originally cross pollenated, then the most successful are cloned?

No and no. Your plant has not been awarded, one of your plant's parents was awarded.

Your plant is not a clone it is a seed cross. Hope that helps you.

[Kimbubbley]

Thank you! It does help... Looks like I have ALOT to learn! But I've also got a lifetime to figure it all out

[WhiteRabbit]

The species Cattleya purpurata was originally categorized as Laelia purpurata. Then the Brazilian Laelias, which purpurata is one, were 'moved' to the genus Sophronitis. Then, some or all of the Brazilian former Laelia species were then again 'moved' to the genus Cattleya (I think the genus Sophronitis no longer exists ? )
The Cattleya alliance has been undergoing lots of changes as far as species being moved into different genera, existing genera being split, and so on - so you will frequently find plants labeled or called by an older genus name. Most people will still call Catt purpurata "Laelia purpurata", but they are one and the same.

I took a few pix - the buds emerging from sheath didn't turn out well, but hopefully you can see them ok (doesn't help that buds, and sheath are green). Both these plants are Catt alliance intergeneric hybrids, so they look different from purpurata, but the sheaths are mostly similar - will hopefully give you the idea ...

First pic is a couple of buds emerging from a sheath. Second pic is a different plant, growth with an empty sheath that didn't produce buds, but that's what the sheath looks like (sheath is in center of pic)