Jenkins,

Onesy, twosy, threesy, foursy-ploid.

Or, as Latin and "proper" orchid people say singular, diploid, triploid,
tetraploid.

Most orchid people like tetraploid orchids (for show) and pay big money for
them.
"Tetras" (4N) have four times the haploid number of chromosomes inside the
cell nucleus.

Bis, Tris, and Tetras often look more husky and robust... sometimes the
flowers are bigger, the leaves feel more leathery and thicker (esp
Cattleyas). Many times these plants will not be good breeders however and
can be a shooting star (ie mules) as their breeding line dies out with that
plant... unless you can clone it.

Mick
HBI, Producers of Fine Orchids in Flask
www.OrchidFlask.com

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wrote in message
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I've most recently seen it (4N) on a phragmipedium given to me. Thank you.