Phragmipedium reticulatum first-bloomer

[PaphMadMan]

I don't know Ed, Eric can be a bit out there sometimes...

I just don't get why some people breed two nearly identical or closely related species together.

Kyle

Speaking from a practical plant breeding perspective, not about these species or any slipper orchids in particular, there may be many reasons to breed closely related or similar appearing species together. Simply looking for hybrid vigor is one. Or if crosses to more distantly related species haven't been successful, the close hybrid may be more fertile with those distant species. And no matter how similar 2 species appear they are not identical, in fact they may not be as closely related as one could assume, and the hybrid may show unpredictable characteristics or a unique recombination of the parents.

 

[@n@iwod]

nice green colors