Al wrote:
The lip does indeed look like it is inside out rather than upside down.
I agree. I have seen this before, now that I've seen the picture.
It has happened with a few complex paphs in my collection. I don't
think I've ever seen it quite as messed up as this one though. Complex
paphs are by their nature prone to some weirdities. Fertility is
generally low (you don't get much seed from a cross), and the seedlings
have a high percentage of 'dog-itude' (its make up a word day!!). But
good ones are really good. This is why I always try to buy several of
any given cross, if not a whole flask. I'd keep the plant and see if it
blooms properly on the next inflorescence. I'm pretty sure it will. I
like the spots.
This brings to mind another word of interest to orchid collectors:
resupinate
(Botany) (of plant parts) reversed or inverted in position, so as to appear
to be upside down
[ETYMOLOGY: 18th Century: from Latin resupinatus bent back, from resupinare,
from re- + supinare to place on the back; see supine]
Orchids flowers are resupinate. I think this is part of the definition of
what makes a flower an orchid. When they bloom the normal orchid flower is
upside down. When the bud forms on the inflorescence it forms right side
up. The lip structure is modified tissue built from what was once the upper
petal of the inner whorl. As the flower develops and prepares to open it
twists half way around at the base of the ovum so the lip is pointing
downward and it opens in the position we consider to be normal and upside
right. So orchids are resupinate; the upper petal of the inner whorl points
downward when the flower opens and the lower sepal of the outer whorl point upward. Only a few are non-resupinate.
Excellent description! I don't know that I've heard it put so well before. I think technically resupinate refers to the orientation of the flower parts in relation to the ovary. What we orchid growers think of as 'normal' is actually upside down. Like
the Australian map of the world. I don't know that this is part of the definition of an orchid, but then again I'm not a taxonomist nor do I play one on TV. Actually I have a face made for radio. Or the internet.
I always thought 'non-resupinate' is a pretty funny word... Shouldn't that be 'supinate'?
--
Rob's Rules:
http://www.msu.edu/~halgren
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a. See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase
more orchids, obtain more credit