Cattleya Heathii OR not?

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Cattleya Heathii (loddigesii x walkeriana) was registered with the RHS in 1907. There have been 12 AOS awards for flower quality to this hybrid, with the first in 1999 and the most recent in 2016. I obtained my Heathii plant from Orchids Limited some years ago as (loddigesii ‘Shorty’ x walkeriana ‘The Chairman’).

However, in recent years walkeriana ‘The Chairman’ was reported to have come from the cross (walkeriana ‘Pendentive’ x walkeriana ‘Tokyo No. 1’) and some experts think that ‘Pendentive’ is actually Cattleya dolosa (loddigesii x walkeriana). Yet, ‘Pendentive’ is still listed as a 1977 awarded Cattleya walkeriana (Alba) by AOS. Here are two posts from Orchid Board about the messy situation with ‘Pendentive’ and some other prominent walkeriana cultivars.

https://www.orchidboard.com/community/cattleya-alliance/32817-walkeriana-kenny.html
http://www.orchidboard.com/community/cattleya-alliance/95869-walkeriana-pendentive.html
If ‘The Chairman’ is actually (dolosa x walkeriana), it becomes Cattleya Tsiku Taiwan, which was registered as a hybrid in 2000.

I don’t find evidence questioning the legitimacy of loddigesii ‘Shorty’ so my plant could be (Tsiku Taiwan x loddigesii) which is not a registered hybrid. It would be 62.5% loddigesii and 37.5% walkeriana compared to the 50% split that Heathii would be.

This is the fourth time my currently six-growth plant has bloomed. The inflorescence has always been axial, has never had a sheath, and has always had two flowers. Growths have been either unifoliate or bifoliate with thin pseudobulbs. The current blooming growth is bifoliate and measures about 30 cm from the surface of the potting material to the horizontal leaves.

The flowers did not develop fragrance to my nose until they had been open for a week. The fragrance is still subtle today and not either the described “baked milk chocolate” fragrance of loddigesii or the vanilla/cinnamon of walkeriana. I would say the fragrance is just pleasingly floral.

Here is a picture of the top of the plant. The flower is about 11.0 cm in horizontal natural spread.

IMG_1714.jpeg
 
Unfortunately, from the beginning, we have always had uncertainties about species and hybrids. Matters not for some. But, for breeding and collecting of special plants, it becomes like the art and collectibles markets. Provenance is critical for authenticity. I would not be able to sell or trade this plant off as Heathii, after what I have read. I have a healthy plant with pretty flowers that is some mixture of walkeriana and loddigesii; just forget the name.
 
That is a very nice flower there. I think the closed side-lobes are neat and tidy. Nice colours and I like the shape of it.

Just have to get in there and manually flip the two petals back out ....... so that the dorsal goes into the back seat - behind the two petals.
 
Just have to get in there and manually flip the two petals back out ....... so that the dorsal goes into the back seat - behind the two petals.
A keen observation, SP - I embarassingly didn't notice the first time around. But when made aware of it, it really sticks out: like an open fly in a pair of jeans. You might not notice, but when you have, it's really difficult to divert your attention away from it!

I have a walkeriana var. album 'Pendentive' - and as much as I love the flowers and the scent of this clone, I've had to accept, that I, neither this day, nor even tomorrow, will get to the bottom of its taxonomic status. I veer towards the fraction, though, that sees it like Catt. x dolosa.
This unanswered question is, but a minor irritant, if your only purpose is to enjoy the plant and its flowers - if you are up for breeding/further hybridizing, you are certainly in a pickle!

Maybe one could contact the registrar at the RHS and ask, how they would consider further offspring of your cultivar, especially newly generated hybrids with it as one of the parents?
This might in some way mark out the playing field, although not bring you much closer in revealing the true, botanical status of your beautifully flowered clone!
 

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