Cymbidieae intergeneric crossing

[galihchersy]

Hi there

I am trying to cross Oncidium panamense and Cymbidium ensifolium

as far as I know, many intergeneric hybrids are produced within the same subtribe, for example Vanda x Phalaenopsis (Aeridinae) and Miltonia x Brassia (Oncidinae)

Oncidium and Cymbidium belong to different subtribe but are in the same tribe, Cymbidieae. Is it still possible for two genera in a same tribe to be crossed?

I have pollinated the 2 Oncidium blooms and they seem positively develop into pods because the peduncle looks swollen and greener. I just have to observe more a bit longer

thank you

Galih, Indonesia

[orchidsarefun]

I have crossed ensifolium with a zygo hybrid. Same cross 2x. Some intergenerics are possible - the consequence, at least in my crosses, is years in the flask. My earliest cross is still in flask 3 years later with low germination and growth.

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[estación seca]

Welcome, Galih! Let us know what happens.

[MrHappyRotter]

I've never heard about or seen a photo of Oncidium x Cymbidium. There's no harm in trying, obviously, just don't get your hopes up.

I still remember someone here that claimed they crossed (going by memory, this might not be right) a phalaenopsis and a miltoniopis or something like that and got upset when I informed him/her that it's simply not possible to naturally hybridize those two genera.

As you know, there are some genera that are closely related enough to produce offspring when hybridized. However, hybrids between species in different alliances are, for all practical purposes, impossible. A lot of common "Cattleya" and "Oncidium" orchids are actually intergeneric hybrids, involving several (or more) different genera of plants. However, you wouldn't be able to hybridize a Cattleya alliance plant with something in the Oncidium alliance.

[galihchersy]

zygopetalum x cymbidium? wow

[PaphMadMan]

There is no registered Oncidium x Cymbidium cross, and I found no other Oncidiinae x Cymbidiinae cross. But there are reported but unnamed crosses of Zygopetalum x Cymbidium and Bolbidium (Brasilorchis, Maxillaria) x Cymbidium. if Zygopetalinae and Maxillariinae aren't impossible then perhaps Oncidiinae isn't either. There are crosses between subtribes in Vandeae, but the degree of relatedness or crossability of subtribes in different tribes isn't necessarily parallel.

There's no reason not to try but the fate of wide crosses is often limited germination, then death of all at the protocorm stage or soon after, or weak survivors that don't last long out of flask. If you get germination, treatment to double the chromosome count in flask might help, but that can also kill off many protocorms. Success may take a large degree of luck or extreme persistence. Good luck.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by galihchersy

zygopetalum x cymbidium? wow

and some of the seedlings have variegated foliage too. Ensifolium wasn't the pod parent. Its exciting but now I understand why seed propagation isn't the favoured form of propagation for Chinese cyms !
Good Luck with your experiment....