Phragmipedium .... fischerii .... don't bite my head off.

[mrhappyrotter]

I'm sticking with the label, this is Phragmipedium fsicherii 'Jean' x self.

Personally, I don't really care if this is "just" a schlimii or not, it's sufficiently different from all my other schlimii plants that it has earned a spot in my collection. This species/cultivar/whatever is much, much more diminutive than any of my other schlimii plants and the flowers are distinctly non-fragrant. So, it's different to me, especially in consideration of how different the color and color pattern of the flowers is.

Otherwise, it's easy to grow and bloom, so that's definitely a plus. Don't let the brown on the leaves fool you, that's just some seaweed extract residue.

 

[terryros]

It is almost identical in coloration and configuration to my non-fragrant fischerii that comes from a line of sib crosses done by Orchids Limited. The orchid world has been confused and in conflict about species since the earliest days. It will be a while until sophisticated genetic tools will be cost effective to analyze good numbers of the problem species to see how much genetic diversity there is. How much genetic diversity is enough to qualify as a separate species? There isn’t a good definition right now.

 

[Linus_Cello]

How much genetic diversity is enough to qualify as a separate species? There isn’t a good definition right now.

It depends if you’re a lumper or splitter. They would probably continue to disagree with a good definition.

 

[littlefrog]

It depends if you’re a lumper or splitter. They would probably continue to disagree with a good definition.

Breeds differently and it is too late to change the RHS registry. That horse has left the barn and probably left the country...

There are quite a few species that I would lump if it was up to me.

 

[richgarrison]

Love it! Jealous…. Don’t have a good version of this or it’s kissing cousin

And no biting!!!!

 

[Hilmar]

Hi,
I goo with you, for me fischeri and schlimii are two different things, close relted , yes, but different in shape, form and fragrance of the flower (schlimii fragrant, fischeri not) if your breed primary hybrids you get pretty intermediates between...

 

[Morja]

Beautiful!

 

[MorandiWine]

Nice fischeri!

 

[FrankRC]

It depends if you’re a lumper or splitter. They would probably continue to disagree with a good definition.

There is not such thing as a lumper or splitter. See my prior post on this subject.

 

[richgarrison]

man i so much want to poke the bear....

 

[gonewild]

man i so much want to poke the bear....

Go ahead and poke. It's been too quiet.

 

[MorandiWine]

#teamfischeri

 

[tnyr5]

man i so much want to poke the bear....

Yes, heaven forbid we should have any peace.

 

[dodidoki]

It is an argument if it is a real spec. or not. Imho it is a separated species . Very nice, anyway.

 

[BrucherT]

Sequencing is easy…. And within financial reach… getting less expensive all the time…always shocked that orchidisiacs don’t do it.

 

[terryros]

Sequencing is easy…. And within financial reach… getting less expensive all the time…always shocked that orchidisiacs don’t do it.

It is more than just the technology. It is also agreeing on what is a definite species. Only wild collected plant (not so easy with a number of species anymore)? Is it line bred plants from certain reputable breeders who don’t make mistakes with labeling or flasking? How many definite species must be tested to establish the norm? Then, assuming you do whole genome sequencing (and plant genomes can be enormous), there will be natural variation, so how much variation is allowed within a species? Some of the characteristics we use to define a different species (blooming season, fragrance, size, etc) might be caused by only a modest number of genetic differences. Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and brussels sprouts are all varieties in the same species Brassica oleracea. That is like the very early days of Cattleyas when the prominent botanists wanted most of the unifoliate Cattleyas to be varieties of Cattleya labiata.