Cattleya luedemanniana - Ecuador

[catttan]

Hey, wait a minute, I looked at the pic, then the commemts, and went back to the pic ( went round this course several times).
Something wrong here ; duplicated lateral petals ? Can't be another flower behind this one.
Sorry ; some people love peloric forms , flowers without lips, all kinds of "different" flowers. Not me. Two too many petals. For me it that detracts from what otherwise would be near perfection. Comes down from 95% to " I don't want to judge this one"...
tell me I'm wrong ? And why ?

Thanks Geoff for drawing attention to the 'duplicated' petals. After reading your comments I went round the same course myself several times and would have agreed with you until I magnified the picture and noticed that 1/4 way from the tip, the 'aberration?' seemed to have merged together with the rest of the petals, and so concluded that what appears to be double petals was actually the shadows thrown by the fold of the petals.The odd looking shadow is due to the direction of the main source of lighting , I think,coming at an angle from below. Of course I could be wrong: these old eyes ain't what they used to be. Moreover i'm almost blind in the left eye due to macular degeneration.

[ischel1]

Oh my gosh, Geoff you're right! However I don't think it should take away from the beauty of the flower or the pleasure the owner takes in possessing it. Thanks for sharing Duane.

[Duane McDowell]

The flower isn't quite open yet, so there is some furling on the edges of the petals. Is that what you're noticing perhaps?

[Dorsetman]

Geoff, Could it be a fold in the edges of the two petals?

You tell me ! - meaning I don't know ; I'm not making any accusations, just pointing out what I can see....

[Halloamey]

Oh my my my! This is what you call, love at first sight...what a beautiful flower! And you grew this from a seedliing??...there should be a button on here that makes the sound of an audience clapping for this one. Fabulous Job!

Totally agreed ! Bruce, you have to look into this matter LOL ! A beautiful example of Luedmannia !

[Halloamey]

Hey, wait a minute, I looked at the pic, then the commemts, and went back to the pic ( went round this course several times).
Something wrong here ; duplicated lateral petals ? Can't be another flower behind this one.
Sorry ; some people love peloric forms , flowers without lips, all kinds of "different" flowers. Not me. Two too many petals. For me it that detracts from what otherwise would be near perfection. Comes down from 95% to " I don't want to judge this one"...
tell me I'm wrong ? And why ?

From my observations of this flowers and countless other aberrated flowers, I will conclude that the flower is perfectly fine, it is a trick of the shadows and photography, a few photos from different angles and lighting once the flower has completely matured will definitely be conclusive. I dislike pelorics or most other petal mutants, I have studied homeotic mutations in flowers for my masters thesis,and from that I can say that this is not a mutant, because it lacks other symptoms, a flower cannot simply have two extra petals without altering other characteristics, like colour texture and shape etc.

[Dorsetman]

From my observations ...c.

I am delighted to hear it. But as an old trial lawyer, can I see the evidence please ? ..."a few photos from different angles and lighting once the flower has completely matured "..

If you believe in reincarnation, maybe I was the original doubting Thomas...

[Duane McDowell]

I am delighted to hear it. But as an old trial lawyer, can I see the evidence please ? ..."a few photos from different angles and lighting once the flower has completely matured "..

If you believe in reincarnation, maybe I was the original doubting Thomas...

I'm afraid this one will have to remain a mystery for the time being. I'm in Gualaceo now, which is about 3 1/2 hours from Guayaquil where the plant is. I will put it on my list of things to look at in two weeks on my return trip.
Happy New Year!