Cattleya luedemanniana - Ecuador

[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!