Hi Sue, the Problem with pileatum, macrocarpum and xtapiriceps is quite complex. and you have the whole gradient in forms and colours between "pure white" pileatum to typical macrocarpum. There are many plants recognized as pileatum which indeed has purple in it. However, there is a lot debate and it is widely accepted that these purple could come from interbreeding with macrocarpum (which would make it a xtapiriceps?), but xtapiriceps on the other hand is a pool pf plants including the primary hybrid pileatum x macrocarpum, as well as all sort of back crosses between all 3 plants and their siblings. To make it more complicated, plants called xtapiriceps appears also in regions where you definitely do NOT have pileatum (how can this be?). Even the story with Ctsm. imperialis, whch has been "recently" given the species status is quite controversial (for me in particular this plant is a variety of pileatum, found only in a "tiny" region in Venezuela. No Matter what some books and websites say, it does NOT exist in Brazil! it cold be possible in Colombia, as the region is next to the border to this country - howeevr, I do not know any fiable reference of of this plant found there either)
Generally, all plants that look like pileatum (white, white with purple/red spots, yellow, white with yellow, white with some extent of red, green, etc) are considered as Ctsm. pileatum.
As for the plant shown here, it really looks like pileatum. I have never seen a pileatum with that colour pattern (which does not mean it does not exist!) To be honest, it really looks (to me at leats) like one of those complex Ctsm. Hybrids which look very close in shape to pileatum (Jumbo Orchids, Orchidglade and Sunset Valley Orchids have many of them), However, I would never consider this plant as xtapiriceps (this is my visceral opinion, which I consider quite valid, as I think the opinion of most botanist and aficionates to these 3 plants is always very visceral when considering what belongs where!)
what confuses me is that it is mentioned this particular plant is coming from Venezuela... I grew up in the region of pileatum, including also the region of var. imperiale (I also had the honor to see the first 'Pierre Couret'!), but I have nevers seen a plant with that color-pattern...
and as per our very last comment.. I think nobody has a real clue regarding these complex "pileatum - xtapiriceps - splendens - macrocarpum - var. imperiale)
Hybrid Mode
