Laelia anceps update - Orchid Board

Roberta · #1 08-06-2018, 03:00 PM

Starting a new thread on the subject of Laelia anceps... previous one was getting very long.

Most of mine are just starting to show spikes. At this point in the summer, most new spikes are no more than 3 inches (6-7 cm), just enough to give a hint of what will follow in the fall and winter. (Some new growths have not yet developed that far, probably will be the later winter "crop") I have one that is seriously confused, in full bloom. Why this one? No clue. Not complaining... But completely unexpected and all by itself.

rbarata · #2 08-07-2018, 08:36 AM

Mine has now 3 spikes. The oldest is approx. 10 cm long (4 inch) while the other two are now starting to show.
I was out for week and we had here temps of 47ºC (116 F) and the plant, apart some of the previous sun burned leaves that I suspect are gone for good, didn't show any major issue.

Your flower is beautiful. If the identification is correct, mine is also white.

Roberta · #3 08-07-2018, 12:29 PM

The varieties more accurately formas) don't have a botanical meaning or standards but they do describe the flowers... sanderiana has that pink/lavender patch on the lip but is otherwise white. Schroederiana has red veining but is otherwise white (there's one or more forms that I have also seen with that description, can't tell the difference). Veitchiana is the one with the coerulea lip and side lobes. Basically, all of these color forms are "semi-alba", there are others with pink instead of violet. The true alba doesn't have the red veining in the throat. So, a lot of variations on the theme of "white L. anceps".

rbarata · #4 08-07-2018, 12:40 PM

Mine is identified as "alba"...just that.

Roberta · #5 08-07-2018, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbarata

Mine is identified as "alba"...just that.

You will see if it is alba or semi-alba (the definition comes from the absence of anthocyanin, the red pigment... if totally absent alba, if mostly absent, semi-alba )

aliceinwl · #6 08-08-2018, 02:04 AM

Nice flower! I think mine is labeled as deep purple. I got it in spike last year with three pseudobulbs. This year's new growth is still pretty immature so I don't think I'll be getting any flowers this winter.

Roberta · #7 08-08-2018, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

Nice flower! I think mine is labeled as deep purple. I got it in spike last year with three pseudobulbs. This year's new growth is still pretty immature so I don't think I'll be getting any flowers this winter.

If it was already in spike when it was divided, it may need a year to get enough oomph to bloom. Three p-bulbs is still pretty small. Sometimes blooming front divisions are cut off and sold... I have obtained some really nice ones that way, they do sometimes need a year to get going on their own, especially if they don't have a whole lot of roots to start with. But it is still possible that the new growth will produce a spike... some L. anceps bloom early - the ones that are going to bloom in October and November would be showing spikes by now, but the late bloomers (January/February) still have time. And I have had one bloom in January one year, November for a couple of years, and then back to January - the same plant. I just sit back and watch them and enjoy.

aliceinwl · #8 08-08-2018, 03:30 AM

That sounds like a likely scenario. It's a really healthy looking plant. If the p-bulb it's putting out matures and it holds to schedule, maybe I'll see flowers again January 2020 :-)

A summer bloomer would be nice, when mine did bloom last January it took a bit of a beating in the rain which I think shortened the lifespan of the flowers.

bogdan · #9 08-08-2018, 06:04 AM

We already have blooming L. anceps in the Botanical Garden here. Why so early, are they that variable?

Roberta · #10 08-08-2018, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bogdan

We already have blooming L. anceps in the Botanical Garden here. Why so early, are they that variable?

As I mentioned above, I had one that just bloomed... many months early. My others are behaving normally. So apparently they can vary widely, and it's not just the difference in growing conditions between the botanical garden and my back yard, since the one that bloomed early gets exactly the same treatment as all the others, and has bloomed normally in the past. Weather is just crazy (both yours and mine) , and I guess that the plants are confused.