Top sepals won't open fully
 

I have had a 2-3 paphs where when they bloom the top sepal does not open fully. They stay canted over the labellum. Why do some do that?

Not familiar with what you're talking about, perhaps more experienced growers do but can you post some pictures?

That happens to some of my multiflorals, I really don't know why. I suppose it could be a mechanism to keep the pouch drier when it rains, but it wouldn't help much in a torrential downpouŕ.

Bill

It just sounds like natural presentation of the flower for many Paphs. Wide open flowers with flat upright dorsals might be what we want, but aren't necessarily what nature intended. It takes some smart selective breeding and/or a little luck in the genetic lottery.

Here is a pic, I hope, of the paph in question. Sounds like a common occurance. The explanations above seem reasonable to me. Guess its going to do what its going to do :biggrin:

Thanks
Paul

That's considered pretty flat dorsal.

You should see something like bellatulum and certain bulldogs (bad ones) whose dorsal sepal are very much cupped in.

In the Sigmatopetalum group (formerly called barbatum complex) = Maudiae types, it is common that the dorsal leans forward, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot. That is one reason for selective breeding (looking for upright dorsals).

Ok. I have another Maudiae paph that does much the same thing. Good to know it's their nature and not anything I did wrong

Yes, that is a normal presentation for a flower that just doesn't have the genes to be better - "cupped" dorsal sepal and a somewhat face-down attitude. You can help it be a little bit better next time if you wait until the flower is almost fully open before you stake it upright. The bud and opening flower will always turn face-down no matter what you do until the flower is mature.