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Old 24-03-2005, 02:55 PM
Myrmecodia
 
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"Mick Fournier" wrote in message ...
Jenkins,

Onesy, twosy, threesy, foursy-ploid.

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


1N would be "haploid," not "singular."


Bis, Tris, and Tetras often look more husky and robust... sometimes the
flowers are bigger, the leaves feel more leathery and thicker (esp
Cattleyas).


"Bis" (i.e. diploid) are typically the normal, wild type plants with
one pair of each chromosome. Haploidy will only be found in pollen
and egg cells.

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.


Tetraploids should be fully fertile with other tetraploids of the same
species. When crossed to diploid plants, you will get sterile or
semi-sterile triploids. IIRC, H&R nurseries has a habit of breeding
4N to 2N in their cattleya seedlings. I'm not sure if this is a
deliberate strategy for generating attractive but sterile plants.

Nick