Phragmipedium besseae var. dalessandroi

[JeanLux]

Now to me it looks like an extremely well colored... besseae !!! Jean

 

[smartie2000]

I let the second bud develop and it also has a hornless staminode. I think that there are enough characteristics for me to call it a dalessandroi. As well the stance of the ovaries and flower points upwards, unlike besseae who has ovaries that hang lower.

 

[Kavanaru]

I think one of the diagnostic characteristis of dalessandroi is that the floral bracts are very closed to each other (in your plant they look more like how they should be in besseae) - I must admit I do not have much experience with any of this two species, but that's what I have always read abote them...

Could it be possible that your plant is a hybrid between dalessandroi & bessae)? My understanding is that both were considered the same species, and were crossed in order to have bessae with less stoloniferous behaviour....

 

[smartie2000]

the floral bracts on my plant is not super closely spaced, but they are not far apart. Maybe spaced slightly closer than most besseae, but there are besseae with the same spacing as my plant. My OZ besseae has farther spacing bracts if I remember correctly. The floral bracts are large for most besseae though.

But I think there is a possibility that it is a hybrid between besseae and dalessandroi. But I don't consider dalessandroi it a species anyway.

I cut the spike off now, so that the plant can focus on new growth. I looked inside each bract, and there are an aborted branching spike.