Alba forms of Cym canaliculatum

[Andrew]

On the off chance that anyone is well versed in Cymbidium canaliculatum, does anyone know if the so called green alba and yellow alba forms of Cym canaliculatum were ever formally described? If so by what name and by who (and where)? The AOC has awarded a canaliculatum as var. alba 'D'Bush' and they are refered to as var./f. alba (album) by growers but I'm wondering whether there is any legitimacy to this or any other name. Rupp's review of the species does not mention any alba colour forms. The Kew monocot checklist also doesn't seem to list any alba forms or varieties, which probably suggests the albas haven't been described although I have on occassion come across described forms and varieties that do not appear on the checklist. Can anyone provide a reference to the description?

[stonedragonfarms]

You might try contacting Helen & Kevin Western at Western Orchids; I have seen a few anecdotal pieces that they have written on canaliculatum v. alba... Keep us posted on your findings?
Adam

[Cym Ladye]

Andrew,

I do not know if the alba form has been formally identified, but it has been accepted as a variety, having been discovered, or at least been made public, within the past 10 years. It is not widely grown outside its native Australia because it is a b..ch to grow! Slow, rots out as seedlings and every other bad growing habit an alba can exhibit.

CL

[Andrew]

CL,
Yes, the two types of alba canaliculatums are called var alba by growers, I was just wondering whether the two types have been properly named, particularly given that there is a green alba and a yellow alba. I guess the fact that a Cymbidium is being called an alba suggests the name is purely a concoction of growers and field observers rather than having any botanical basis. I suspect the alba's may have entered into the scene after it was concluded that the canaliculatum varieties had no taxonomic merit so there was no need to describe them.

[Cym Ladye]

Andrew,

I am certainly not the expert on describing a species but in my experience, once the species itself has been described, all different color forms are merely absorbed into the species and referenced only as "varieties". They are not separately described.

In this case, the absence of anthrocyanin (red color) in all the flower segments, especially in the lip, is what determines the "alba" varietal designation.

CL