a Ctna Why Not question for the hive mind ...

[Paul]

Well, I attended an orchid show this past weekend. While there, I noticed a vendor had a Ctna Why Not which had a rather odd form. Instead of the common round/typical Broughtonia shape to the flowers, the flowers instead reminded far more of flower like Lc Rojo or Lc Blazing Treat -- the more tubular lip and thinner petals. Unfortunately, I was not able to take a picture. I really wonder if the plant hadn't been mislabeled when he got it. So my question is, has anyone ever seen a Why Not that deviated so much from the norm?

[tucker85]

My guess is that it was mislabeled. I've never seen a Ctna. Why Not with a tubular throat and lip. Another possibility is that it was Ctna. Why Not crossed with another orchid and you just didn't see the entire label.

[Fairorchids]

I seem to recall a B. nodosa x Ctna. Why Not hybrid, with flowers resembling your description.

[PaphMadMan]

Ctt. (or Ctna.) Why Not can sometimes have a rather tubular lip and narrower segments from the Gur. aurantiaca parent. You would expect to see this more if someone did a sib cross or selfing of Why Not, or if the Gur aurantiaca parent is 4N. No guarantee, but it could be Why Not.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by tucker85

Another possibility is that it was Ctna. Why Not crossed with another orchid and you just didn't see the entire label.

Nope, definitely saw the whole label -- hence my befuddlement.

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

Ctt. (or Ctna.) Why Not can sometimes have a rather tubular lip and narrower segments from the Gur. aurantiaca parent. You would expect to see this more if someone did a sib cross or selfing of Why Not, or if the Gur aurantiaca parent is 4N. No guarantee, but it could be Why Not.

Hmm, well it definitely was not labeled as a sib cross, and the plants are usually well labeled at the shows I attend even with regard to sib crosses. However, that said, I know the vendor did not grow the plant up himself so there is the possibility, perhaps, that whomever he purchased the plant from erred in not labeling a sibbing. Considering how strongly dominant Broughtonia's form seems to be in any cross, I leaned toward "mislabeled" though realize that it could have been a fluke with the more recessive Gur form appearing. Oh, and I should have added, the coloration of the flowers was typical of Ctna Why Not.

[tucker85]

I should have looked at Orchidwiz before I posted to this thread. Apparently Ctna. Why Not is extremely variable. Some are red, some are solid yellow and some are purple, according to the many images in Orchidwiz. Many are flat but several cultivars have very tubular throats and lips.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by tucker85

I should have looked at Orchidwiz before I posted to this thread. Apparently Ctna. Why Not is extremely variable. Some are red, some are solid yellow and some are purple, according to the many images in Orchidwiz. Many are flat but several cultivars have very tubular throats and lips.

Really?! Huh! The typical roundish Why Not is the only type I have ever seen ... though I do recall seeing a yellow one once upon a time. (A purple one would be interesting.) Perhaps the rounder form is a far more common occurrence in the hybrid.