Is this a pure lowii?

[Mafate]

Hello all, I bought this plant 2 years ago from a renowned seller on eBay and it was supposed to be an alba form of P. lowii. Its name was "Paphiopedilum lowii alba 'Albino Beauty'".

Of course it is not an alba form, but do you think it is at least a pure lowii? Or something else? There was a label stuck on the original pot that said "Hybrid". I had contacted the seller at the time for this but he had reassured me that this was not the case. But finally...

Last point, do you think brown leaf tips are caused by too much fertilizer?

Thank you for your help. Regards.

 

[Justin]

It looks correct to me.

 

[GuRu]

It looks correct to me.

Sylvain, I would second this too.
Colouration is quite strange but unique .... completely in between .. but I wouldn't query P. lowii.

 

[Ozpaph]

lowii.
albino beauty x normal form = "hybrid"

 

[Tom-DE]

lowii.
albino beauty x normal form = "hybrid"

That actually is still considered a species. A unique outcome for sure!

 

[cborchids]

Let me know if you want to sell or trade it. I have other lowii, but this one is pretty.

 

[Tom-DE]

Mafate is in France...not easy even if he will...

 

[Roots]

Can't comment on lowii v. hybrid but have to say the color is beautiful, esp. with the picotee around the edge of the petals.

 

[CarlG]

Whatever it is, it is attractive...

 

[Mafate]

Hello all, thank you very much for your answers. So I will keep P. lowii on my label.

lowii.
albino beauty x normal form = "hybrid"

I think you are right. However, even if the result is nice, it does not match what the seller said. The eBay ad said it was "Paph. lowii alba `Albino Beauty x self` No.2." Apparently it is not, so I still need to find a real lowii alba. If anyone knows where I can get a real one, I would appreciate the info.

Thanks and good night.

 

[Tom-DE]

Hello all, thank you very much for your answers. So I will keep P. lowii on my label.



I think you are right. However, even if the result is nice, it does not match what the seller said. The eBay ad said it was "Paph. lowii alba `Albino Beauty x self` No.2." Apparently it is not, so I still need to find a real lowii alba. If anyone knows where I can get a real one, I would appreciate the info.

Thanks and good night.

The lowii alba is easy here in U.S...I saw a couple on Ebay. Surprisingly, you can't get it in EU.

 

[Ozpaph]

That actually is still considered a species. A unique outcome for sure!

Im aware of that but it might explain his label

 

[Ozpaph]

Not all lowwii 'albas' are true album forms. May have a few spots and should be called 'flavum' (if yellow). So if selfed, some will be coloured to some extent.
That's genetics!

 

[richgarrison]

I just this weekend purchased an ‘albino beauty’ selfing. And REALLY hope it comes out like yours. I’d love to have that on my bench.

 

[Austin Creek]

Your plant looks like lowii album x normal color type, or possibly a second generation cross using 1/2 album parents. A few years ago, Hilo Orchid Farm was selling some "1/2 album" crosses that looked very much like yours.

And, as Ozpaph mentioned, a lot of plants marketed as lowii album are not true albums. The first flower photo below is of 'Viognier' JC/AOS which has spots on the petals typical of many of these "supposed" albums.

In my somewhat limited experience, selfing or sib crosses made solely between 'Albion Beauty', 'Hilo Gold' or 'Easter' produce pure album offspring. Here is an 'Albion Beauty' x self I flowered a few years ago. The second flower photo is of an 'Albion Beauty' x self that I flowered a few years ago. Recently, I flowered a few 'Hilo Gold' x 'Easter', which so far have all produced pure album flowers.

To me, the flower shape of pure albums seems to be distinctly different from that of normal or 1/2 album forms. If anyone has some insight on the genetics or origins of the pure album forms, I've love to hear!

 

[Ozpaph]

thanks for those interesting breeding observations.