Lepanthes cross - what do you think please?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Ok, so here we go. I have Lepanthes telipogoniflora, and cross of Lepanthes telipogoniflora x calodictyon, both from Ecuagenera. The cross plant was blooming for the first time over a month ago, the bloom was kind of similar to telipogoniflora, but shaped different, more like a triangle 3 corner shape than round umbrella as telipogoniflora (picture 1 shows first bloom). Today, there was new bud opened, on the very same plant, and to my surprise, this bloom looks nearly identical to telipogoniflora that is blooming at the same day in the same glass orb. I must say, I am little surprised the same plant produce different shaped blooms. The bloom and the plant on all pictures to the right is telipogoniflora, on the left side is the "cross", and all detailed pictures are the pictures of the bloom on the cross plant! Also, I think, that this "cross" did not work well for Ecuagenera at all, the plant is just boring, lacking any exciting features. I would love if the leaves would be small as telipogoniflora has, but with marbling as calodictyon has, or at least if the bud would be somehow exciting. The only difference I see now is that the cross plant has just slightly larger leaves than telipogoniflora species and slightly smaller bloom than telipogoniflora, but with this open bud, it is pretty much just another telipogoniflora plant. What do you think?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Possibly maybe 2 seedlings mounted together I assume and one was cross and one was telipogoniflora?

[Ordphien]

It very well might be two plants.
I've never seen this cross with such a rounded bloom.

I've also never really liked the leaves... I find them kinda boring
Maybe I just want something more visual.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Ordphien

It very well might be two plants.
I've never seen this cross with such a rounded bloom.

I've also never really liked the leaves... I find them kinda boring
Maybe I just want something more visual.

Totally agreed, the whole cross just did not work for me at all, leaves have nothing interesting, did not take any of calodictyon marbling, they are just bigger than telipogonifloras. Bloom is ok, nothing unusual too.

[Paul]

I understand your disappointment. Always the risk one takes with any cross. While it is possible that a few of the hybrids might turn out to be "remarkable" in some manner, it could very well be that all the offspring look just like yours. Appears that telipogoniflora's phenotype is very dominant over calodictyon's.

"Also, I think, that this "cross" did not work well for Ecuagenera at all,..."

That, too, is an unavoidable risk -- in this case, for the hybridizer. Hence a contributing factor to the expense of orchids compared to cheaper plants like African violets. While you can certainly wind up with some "duds" hybridizing AV's, at least you don't have to go through the expense of flasking nor wait as long to see the fruits of your labor.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Paul

I understand your disappointment. Always the risk one takes with any cross. While it is possible that a few of the hybrids might turn out to be "remarkable" in some manner, it could very well be that all the offspring look just like yours. Appears that telipogoniflora's phenotype is very dominant over calodictyon's.

"Also, I think, that this "cross" did not work well for Ecuagenera at all,..."

That, too, is an unavoidable risk -- in this case, for the hybridizer. Hence a contributing factor to the expense of orchids compared to cheaper plants like African violets. While you can certainly wind up with some "duds" hybridizing AV's, at least you don't have to go through the expense of flasking nor wait as long to see the fruits of your labor.

Agreed! And I heard that first cross in many cases SUCKS and it is the second one that is much better. Well, no regrets, I can always give this plant away, it would be great if the cross took leave coloration and marbling from calodictyon and some color for the bloom too, but it seems just like larger telipogoniflora with slightly different shape of the bloom, and I do not find that triangle shape as appealing as round umbrella shape of telipogoniflora.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I can tell the difference. The reason why the differences are not readily apparent is because the big satellite shape are formed from the sepals.

You can really tell the difference if you look at the 2 plants' tiny petals.

The petals on your cross look more like those from the Lepanthes calodictyon. They're redder, have visible lobes, and the lobes and horns intersect at the apex.

Petals on your true Lepanthes telipogoniflora are more orange in color, thin, and look like hairy/spiky insect legs. They run parallel to each other and, therefore, do not intersect at the apex.

I agree, the cross is disappointing. I personally like both species as they are.

I'm personally not too crazy about Lepanthes hybrids. Lepanthes hybrids tend to not be so exciting for me. The reason for this is that the showy portion of the flowers are the sepals, and the petals are easy to overlook because they're so small and they don't look like a typical petal; often times with Lepanthes, the way to tell the species apart from the hybrids are through the petals.

If you're looking for a half-way decent Lepanthes hybrid, I think the one to look at are the Lepanthes saltatrix and Lepanthes calodictyon crosses. Everything else looks like washed out versions of either parent to me. Personally, I'd just buy both Lepanthes calodictyon and Lepanthes saltatrix and breed both species like crazy without bothering to hybridize them.

[euplusia]

Pollination must have been dodgy, but I personally like both species better in the way they are.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by euplusia

Pollination must have been dodgy, but I personally like both species better in the way they are.

Agreed! I love each of them separate. I've seen many interesting, beautiful Lepanthes crosses, mostly from Belgium and France growers, not available in the US. This one, even the fact both "parents" are gorgeous, the baby is just kinda ugly :-)

[NeofinetiaCanada2014]

I am also agreeable to the current thoughts on this primary cross (and have these from Ecuagenera as well) BUT imagine if it was bred back to calodictyon to make stronger vigorous plant with calodictyon leaves AND umbrella flowers... And based on Mendelian genetics, 25% may do this. And that may turn out not to be a waste after all


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