Nedd help with NOID unifoliate cat

[desertchid]

I have a NOID uni foliate cat in S/H that seems to produce a second leaf instead of a bud sheath. Last January after blooming it put out 4 new growths. Two of the new growths now have bud sheaths and 2 have developed a second leaf PB combo. Am I doing something wrong or not failing to do something or is this normal cat behavior?

[Gin]

Hi , Some Catts do that , Will grow both unifoliate and bifoliate leaves .. No worries ! Gin

[orchid-man]

it depends on the breeding,but most cats these days have bifolate and unifolate within them and therefore can produce both on the one plant in any year.

[Tindomul1of9]

What is bifolate and unifolate mean?
One leaf, two leafs??
Thanks.

[Diane]

Yes, Unifolate - one leaf... plant produces a sheath/spike and buds from the base of the leaf. Bifolate - two leaves... plant may produce buds directly from the juncture of the leaves or send a sheath and buds up from the juncture.

One of my favorite old time catts is doing that right now... I will post a photo this weekend. This plant has bloomed regularly as a unifolate, but the growth that started last fall developed a second leaf instead of a sheath. I was really bummed, but then a few months later, I looked at the juncture of the leaves and saw 2 tiny buds! (Never put out any kind of sheath) The first bloom is almost fully open. The flowers are not as large, and not quite the same shape as the ones produced from a unifolate p-bulb and sheath.

[Tindomul1of9]

Thanks Diane!

[Piper]

Hi Tindo,

Unifoliates can have one to five buds (usually 1-2) per stem and the flowers may only last 2-3 weeks (althoughs some hybrids will bloom for longer.) http://www.orchidspecies.com/cattgaskeliana.htm
http://www.orchidspecies.com/cattlabiata.htm

Bifoliates can have clusters of 10-25 flowers per stem, and the blooms typically last longer than unifoliates. The plants tend to be larger and can be several feet tall.
http://www.orchidspecies.com/catleyaskinnerii.htm
http://www.orchidspecies.com/cattporphyroglosssa.htm
http://www.orchidspecies.com/cattviolacea.htm

I love looking at pictures to see the differences.

Julie

[bench72]

oh shucks, thanks, Julie!

I need space!!!! You can't show me pretty pics like that!!!

[Diane]

Here are some pics of some of my catts.

First, a unifolate in bloom as expected: (Toshie Aoki)



And a nice shot of the flowers....




Here is my Burana Beauty with a spike, a bifolate




And here is the mutant catt, picture shows current growth and bloom and previous unifolate p-bulb that bloomed last year.



Flowers are also slightly deformed, smaller and somewhat paler than last year, but just opened this week..

[Molly Taco]

Thanks Diane and Julie, Great info as usual and and easy to understand. The pics are good too.
Cin