My Cattleya walkeriana v. alba (4n) PICS
 

Hi there, folks! I recently bloomed this wonderful tetraploid C. walkeriana v. alba ('Bette' AM/AOC x 'Laina' AM/AOC). It's a first bloom, but on a very large plant that has been languishing in a friend's overly shaded GH for 10 or 15 years. From pictures I could find online, it has better form than both parents. I'm definitely happy with the outcome of this long-lost little treasure!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...iana_alba2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...riana_alba.jpg

I actually shot the pics, yesterday, which is when it opened. It has since flattened out and expanded the petals and lip more. From what I have seen, this flower has better shape and form than 'Pendentive' AM/AOS. The natural spread is a bit lower, but those full petals and absolute LACK of a gap between petals and sepals more than make up for a 1cm difference in natural spread.

Enjoy!

-Cj

Cj,

Congrats! A great walkeriana! "Laina" is a very well known alba clone, "Bette" I didn't saw yet. Oh man, overshade these beauties is a crime! I agree, it's better than "Pendentive", and here in Brazil we are seriously suspicious that "Pendentive" is in fact a hybrid (C. Dolosa, walkeriana x loddigesii) and not a genuine walkeriana (look at the sides of the lip, completely opened in "Pendentive", as in regular Dolosas, and look at your plant: part of the sides of the lip opened, part closed, as in natural walkerianas!). So, yours is the 'Champion'. Man, this plant would make a huge success here in Brazil! Think about a mericlone!

Happy New Year!!

Frederico: I am definitely going to exhibit it on it's second blooming. Here is a better picture of it, witht he lip and petals better expanded, and catching the diamond-dusted texture:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...iana_alba3.jpg

I'd definitely like to have it cloned, especially if I get it awarded. Sadly, it doesn't have a fragrance, yet. But then, the flower was still expanding, today. Maybe tomorrow.

-Cj

Cj,

I'm waiting for new pics! And you can be sure, your plant is a real walkeriana, "Pendentive" is a hybrid (Dolosa), one day the truth will appear (as with semi-alba "Kenny", now a Dolosa, officially!)

Curious if the flower is coming from a flower growth, or from within a leaf growth? True walkerianas are supposed to flower from the rhizome within a modified growth.

Very nice flower!
Peter

On one side of the plant, there is a bud from a flower growth. The growth the flower in question is on is basically a half-formed leaf growth. The bulb is shorter and spindlier than normal bulbs, and the leaf is maybe an inch long and never flatened out. So, yes and no. LOL. I think it tried to be a psuedobulb, then decided to bloom, instead. But, yes, otherwise it blooms on regular floral growths, apparently. It also put out a couple blind floral growths, this year.

-Cj