Wrongly labelled orchid

[RosieC]

Just a note... even if you have seen a pic of the cross you could find another of the same cross which has completely different colouring.

Many species have 'variants' in the wild which can range in colour, when the cross is made the colour of the hybrid can depend on which variants of the parent species were used.

On top of that, because of the way genetics works each seed in a batch of seed can be different in looks, a recessive trait (such as colour) may show in some of the seedlings and not others... only when you have clones will it be identical to the parent.

Think of it this way... all humans are one species, but look at the variation there are in that species and the fact that even twins are not identical unless they are split from the same egg.

Having said that your plant does look a lot like anceps and so it may be a variant of anceps or it may be a hybrid with a lot of anceps in it's parantage

[WhiteRabbit]

Laelia anceps Culture Page

(of course being in Australia, the growing season for this will not be April - November. Spring - Autumn )

Lots of light - which yours must get plenty since it's blooming

I know L anceps gets very long spikes, I don't know whether all Mexican Laelias do or not

[stefpix]

For my taste looks way better than a white Cattleya. Anyway I have an anceps seedling since last year. takes ull sun/ hot / cold weather and grows nicely.

Maybe you can google the nursery where you got it frm and see what hybrids they sell. The shape of the lip looks different than a reg L. anceps so I suspect it must be some hybrid most likely.

[Rosiefuture]

Hi all and thanks so much for all your help.

Stefpix it's more my cup of tea than a white Cat too, I have several of those anyway! lol Also I didn't get it at a nursery, I bought it at least 5 years ago at a OS sale.

Just seems funny that I've been waiting all this time for this white Cat to open and I've ended up with a lovely purple Laelia type.

Whiterabbit, yes it gets a lot of light. It's in a hanging basket under about 70% shadecloth on an extension to my patio. It's a nice breezy, bright area and a lot of my orchids love it.

Marion