LAELIOCATTLEYAS .. . Flamboyant Peacocks of the Cattleya Alliance FRANK FORDYCE ‘The happy combination of Laelia x Cattleya is one that refuses t0 take a “back-seat.” even to che increasingly pop- ular Sle, group. Ofttimes we tend to overlook certin hybrid-types . .. but Laelicattleyas lend so much sparkle, rich color, flamboyant form, vigor and delicious scent that ie is literally impossible to overlook these treasures, Botanically, Laelias are distinguished from Cattleyas by the presence of eight pollinia instead of four but bigeneric ‘crosses berween the rwo genera ate easily made. The genus is widely distributed from Mexico to Southern Brazil with at least 25 species listed in Sanders List of Orchid Hybrids, The Brazilian Laclas are by far the most widely used in hybridizing as they more closely resemble the standard CCatdeya form, Ie is most interesting to check the Laelio- cattleyas listed in the AOS. Register of Awards and trace their ancestry back 10 the specific Laelias used. The hy- brids checked had received a minimum of 3 awards each, thereby pointing to the fact that che hybrid had at least good average, OF che 45 awarded hybrids listed in Sup- plement IV, 1 found 36 involving Laclia purpurase, 14 involving Laelia tenobrosa, 8 involving Laci pumila and ‘one involving Laelis xenthina, Several hybrids contained 4 combination of these species 28 well. Undoubiedly, among the reasons hybridists have used L. purpurata and L. tenebrosa 0 widely is chet relatively large size in comparison 0 most of che Laelia complex. With L. purprata catrying 3 +0 11 large spring blooming 69" flowers cxitied well above the foliage on long, well spaced stems, ie well qualifies as one of the true “peacocks” of the wibe. Because this species fas such a wide range of color, Ihybridizers have used its many purples, whites and white with parple, pink or blue lips 10 produce some of our most sxcractive modem day hybrids. Finding the one particular ‘lone of this species thet is superior is the constant effort of every conscientious hybridizer for its varieties run into the hundreds, perhaps ovtdistancing any other Ozchid in this respect. Unfortunately, its poor form carries through from generation to generation and hes proven difficult climinare; even so is lise of accomplishments ranks among, the great Laelia purparata is an ancestor of such famous hybrids as Le, Lustre, Le. Callistoglossa, Le. Cavalese, Le. Bonanza, Le, Dominiana, Le. Cenhamiana, Le. Ann Follis, Le, Cecile ‘Simmons, Le, Eva Robinson, Le. Little Moe, Ee, Oakland and Le, Quadroon to mention only 2 few. Laelia tenobrosa is second only to L. parpurata in its ine fluence upon modern hybrids and his highly-colored Brazilian Laelia is of paramount interest co hybridizes. The varieties most often used are largelowered and a eep lustrous, reddish-brown, enhanced by a deep purple lip, Variety Walon Grange has cles, bright yellow sepals and hus contributed a great deal o our fines yellows, This 100, has some “builtin” breeding problems, because many of its progeny, though possessing rich color, have rather poor shape, When L. tenebrasa is crossed with C. dowiana it produces Le, Luminos, one of our finest most influential yellow hybrids, Some of the L, temebrose hybrid chat have atcined recognition are Le S. J Bracey, Lz, Sandes Orella Le, Princess Margaret, Le, Marie Ozella, Le. Loeraine Shit, Te, George Baldwin, Le, Amber Glow and Le. Mem, Albert Heinecke Tacias thar have made tremendous contiborioas 10 the Breeding of rich, clear colors are L. cinnabarina, L. lava, 1, harpophylte and L. xanthina. The newly defined 1. niller is also proving t be an excellent patent of red and orange hybrids Laeliss may be divided into two or more sections geographically, the Brazilian and the Mexican Undoubtedly Laelia anceps is the best known of the Mexican group, and is widely variable in form and colos, ‘These are often referred to as the “cool” growing laelias because they will withstand che out of doors climate of ‘most Southern California areas. A new interest is now de- veloping among hybridizess cowards hybrids bred from the white and purple forms of L. anceps because they can be mounted on driftwood, walls and trees in che patios of hobbyists without the cost of building a glasshouse. Laelia gonldians, L, auiznatis and L. albida make up the balance of the more popular Mexican laeia. In pinpointing the mejor infinence Laelias have upon modern hybrids, it is recognized that they are responsible for richness and depth of color in tepals and especially in the lips of our purples. Certainly, there would be no argu- rent that Laelias have influenced our yellows tremendously. Dodson and Gillespie, in The Biology of the Orchids state that “the yellow color of the genus Laelia is domsinane cover the purple color in Cattleya. First generation hybrids between such Laclias as L. flav and the labiate Cattleyas are ll yellow, although some purple pigment may be evident on the reverse side of the sepals and sometimes along the veins in the front of the flowers.” Te is most interesting to note chat while checking the Laeliowcattleya hybrids listed in Sanders, definite patterns of breeding kept coming into prominence. One of the oxt- standing examples is thac of Le. Princess Margaret (Le. Profusion x G, Clotho). ‘This hybrid contains 4 shots of C. warscewicai, 2 of C. dowians, 2 of C. mostiae, 1 of C. ‘warner, 1 of C. trianae, and 1 of I. tenebrosa, Remember ing thae genes are inherited either singly or in packages, both good and bad, we note that Le. Princess Margaret is 4 spring-summer blooming hybrid, undoubtedly derivingLe, Danse ‘Lyoth Belle’ HCC/AOS (Le, Francois Coppee x Le, Jocelyn) — A happy combination of Laelia tenebrosa with Caitleya dowiana leat superb form through the influence of Cattleya labiata. This hybrid flowers in delightful atc Shades, is large in size and carties little or no tendency towards crippling. Bred in France, it has excellent vigor, clear yellow coloring and lack of deformity in many selected varieties of which many meristems are available ia che trade. Le, Medon ‘San Francisco’ AM/AOS (Lc. Mrs. Medo x Le. Sargarno) — The ruse of Le. Lustre, with a Cattleya warscewiczit (syn. C. gigas) and Laelia pur purata background, tends co Tend an undertone of warmth co purples when ‘used in combinations that have Catzley2 dowiana background. The famous yel- Tow tetraploid, Lc, Mrs, Medo was crossed with the purple Le, Sargarno, stem- ming fom Le, Lustre. This is a good illustration of the effects of crossing @ yellow with a purple where the yellow has lent warmth of tone, Le, Waianae Sunset ‘Pokai’ AM/AOS, HOS (Le. Mysedo ‘Miya’ 4n x Le. Dorothy Fried) — This is a new parent plant which is destined to make its name well known in a short time. The rich, glowing color is inherited from the tetraploid jysedo, a Le, Mrs. Medo hybrid. With a similar backgrouad as the preced- Wg cross (Le, Medon), this was a product of a yellow and a purple. A hybrid- izer using this as a patent may now go either way in subsequent breeding, Le, Jocelyn ‘Alcazar’ (Le, Barses x Le, Crowborough) — Interest- ingly enough, this hybrid derives most of its yellow coloring from C. dowiana and L. fenebrosa, both quite far back in its ancestry since most of the parentage of this cross is purple. This cross is ‘almost entirely a product of English and French breeding and ‘meristems of it are readily available, Acknowledgement: Color separations for this page were donated by South Coast Orcbid Society 295habit from the spring blooming C. mossiae, and the summer blooming C. swarscewicsii, C. dowina and C. warner, with @ possible assist from L. tenebrose, The colot packages of L. tonebrosa and C. dowiana have beea “lost along the way: 10 the purple influence of C. warscowiczi, . wameri, C. mossiae and C, srianae. Ie is interesting «o note that Le. Princess Margaret con- tains some albino color genes that express themselves oc- casionally in its progeny. Le, DeLoris Ziegfeld, Le, Detry- rane, Le, Louise Kieswerer and Ble. Edwin Chong are prime examples of purple hybrids that produce an ac- ‘asional semi-alba, Thinking it might be of interest, 1 have searched Sanders List of Orchid Hybrids and the AOS Register of ‘Awards and have selected what I feel 10 be a cross section of the most valuable (and incidentally che most awarded) Lacliocatieyss. They are listed in general color groups, although we must recognize that certin specific clones ‘may vary in color fom the group in which itis placed. Seudy the listing and you will find some most interesting and valuable information in the combinations that make up one of our most colorful groups... che Laeliocatleyas, YELLOW, BRONZE, ART SHADES AIMA WICHMUAN {Le lien KEROQLOR (Es. Kent = 6 To's Le Eagar Vio Bali) AMBER GLOW (Te: Dens Ze LEE rgNorono ¢ (te Calizosa x ay (C ernules = Le. LENA BALDWIN (1s, Le Lang “Bat Hermes ford 5 0: ees Ser AUTUMN STREONY (ro. LORRAINE SRAT [2 Dera x te Cae EE amo CANBERRA (Ea. Lene x ¢. SAC. dowlene x 1. Venwsy & ‘er CARMENCITA (Le Lominoia x MARIE OZELEA (te. Loe Lane: iMboan) ° fo eC. ire) COURLERWORTIT (C, dace EDO, a Mis Modo x Le Diviata Pos come + EN Seany nemo ce DERWA he gue x . devien) MBS. MEDO (Le. Ennis x . sen ta iets rep tra nate HGRESPILE Gs On oatte amore ce, one EISTRAD GEM (6. Dlr x 1 Saat a ORANGE, BLOSSOM (Ze, Boor CATION GLORY (10, Centers 3 Le, Team) TE Mamas ORANGE GEM (Le. Binor x Le G'S, MALL (0, whwtdewe x f bail haha) PACIFIC SUN (Co, Caden Charm GOUDEN CATE (Le 5. J. Brey woe tt) SASDRA, OFELIA (te. 5. GRANDER (Ee. Nix Modo x ¢. “"Bhty x Crain red ISSY (C. lopoldu x L tmebrse) ““dntana wits’ auras = © PURPLE CLUSTER snguns aces cose = sg TARR, en “Bey a Ps FAEL IO piigh Gr baum ne GLMCA ole RAE OPE BO (Chee TE! WAR ca mae Ts, a5 SEML-ALBA ACONCAGUA, (te. gabrideme x tania x Le Ness hla Taek Wham * He ite Sehreme * © yuna. MAGGIE HOOD (Le. Acom BRITANMLA (ce, Contain x i © En a CCANHABIIANA (0. momice x. "“Sunmenyt™ (2 Sratie x ©. Sine CORTIEA (ue, stmoamne x c, SMEMEN Q, FOURARER (ze MASALLIE (re. Betamla x C. WHITE OPAL (Le. Cenbenians ‘Sonate Te Vile de Linz) 296 PURPLE ASA, la Gon ome 6 ERIE a, mtn v0 AEE, Gf, tare = es rt MIE Ee Get nex. AGT RE (Oo Han = ApS (Ce coon + xB WaNER Acorn ce MESETE ete CM te ee Medien SS ee i ey Rt ce OAKLAND (Ze. Buccaneer x Le, BOU FHILLIEO (Le Winders ay at BRACETANA™ (Le, Late x 6. CAVALESE (Ze Lame x 6. OLIVER TINE (Le, Prince Ate eee eel PAGIRIG (Le. Beton Le. Atlan SF ws wiglolng ji aroeal Fe ce gyorg cnn RADIOS Ee PIABett le town 9 6. cipsrigal ie may ay DELOTUS AEGHURLD (Ug, ae ISAK (thr so PISCE BARGARET (ce: = DERRTRANE (2g, Belts x Le. PROPUSION (Ler Serbia x DESNA (fg, Domininns x Le pRonist he, Hyperion x Le, hincee Woods DETTA (Le. Suzea x C. Diack) gi tet oun aC, DINARD (Ee, St Gated «6. RRS DonOTHY FATED (te, Princes Pernt PRY (Ue Late x sos es eee reaver SMT sie eran EERIE lait im A dart nce pa etnies tate) pam) MEGS Dw Cee et wm SAR RANG, im + ce soe ae tuas cg, SANGON [Ee a Cx ad BEAROPICON te tex c. SMED : QDS (ue et ox x te SURONLAf ae 6 ee premiere Cee cae me, STOCORAND (tex sone + caonGBALDIN i, mam COND. fe Marne 3 0) Ea OR etna ONCE CURLER, (Le ay peti (5, at aoe a ee pas Es Nor Cancer x crt Santo ca Mornin SUSAN, (Es. Mn, Ch ogi COME ue amex HERGRABN ma (6 Tow x OmURETAEE (ie ont x 0. TSMR, Joh Hare IEEE ie cnen | NESE IIe fen = ERG ide ar ae MERRIMAC IIPERO, (20 Com sas VANGEGUETTA (eT x6 ISHTAR (Le, Sargon x C. Fubiny WANAR SUNSET, (Le. Dorothy JOSE RAMIRON (es ty Aten SACU Ue ny Roe HUME, (Ze Geren! Mase x WINDERMERE (Ze Moms x 6 SUET QUUEN (re. Piacas WYATF RAND, (Le. Pande x PURPLE SPLASHED EXGELLINCY (Le, Law €. JUDY SMALL (05, Bala © INEGI (22, Senn x 6 ‘ar Mooi BLUE BLUR BOY (ce A x te wareNote the repeated use of certain parent stock through- ot the entize Lacliocatleys complex, Inthe purple section, wwe find Le. General Maude, undoubtedly used for the form derived from L, pumila subs. pracstans, Ceraialy Le, Pia cess Margaret appears repeatedly and possibly because it is one of che finest spring,summer bloomers of exceptional form. For yests, growers have endeavored t0 improve the spring-surnmer purple hybrids and have found theie major sccess through the use of Le, Princess Margaret. Le, Lustee finds its way into scores of hybrids because of its intense coloring detived from Le. Calistoglossa (C. waricewiczii x L. purpurata) ana its exceptionally large datk purple lip. Many Le, Lustre hybrids have acquired a delightful scent and some tend «0 carry a splash of deeper purple on the ‘outer areas of the petals. Le, shar and Le, Elissa have been very popular, also, and can be traced back 10 the same pareatage we've jose mentioned ‘The yellow alliance is not as far removed from the species influence and the majority of those listed can be traced to L, tenebroca, Cercainly it is foremost with Laelia cinna- barina, L flava and L. xanthine being. minor contributor. The bloom size of the purple cluster-ypes listed is in haeited from the Cactleya tribe, C. Bowringiana ond C. longa, The intensity of color is inherited from the lacia inffuence. ‘The semicslba group inherits the white tepals from selecced semi-albs forms of the species inwoived and relate almost exclusively «@ L. parpurata ‘As mentioned previously, purple-splashed petals appear in the combination of (C. waricewieaii x L. purpurata) The blue section involves L, purpurats, possibly the vat. Werkbaaseri Very few whites are derived from the laclia influence. The one listed is of the Mexican Laelia group. Alchough impractical ro trace the lineage of all Laelio- cateleyas, this cross section encompasses the major clones used t0 produce our finest modern hybrids and serves as a basis for all fueuze Lacliocatleya breeding. COCR ATRL TIRE cy AUS Lo betes» Liile shade materials @ fans © watering devices ‘« fiberglass © bamboo stakes PVC ‘© polyethylene eluates Ieee © greenhouses etcrrraert Orquideario Catarinense P.O. BOX 1. 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