Catasetum pileatum - showing male and female flowers

[catttan]

Rarely do we get to see the female flowers because 90% of the time the plant produces male flowers, which is very fortunate for us growers, as the female flowers are downright ugly. Female flowers occur when the temperature rises higher than the norm while the plant is spiking and the flower buds are forming. Normally the pileatum spikes from mid June when the cooler weather starts nut this year it spiked in March at the height of the hot spell, thus the formation of the female flowers.

I am posting pictures of both the male and female flowers. No need to label the pictures as they are self-explanatory. The pictures of the male flowers are from last year's blooms.

[Paph]

So very beautiful, never seen this one before: flowers are reall really interesting, as there are two totally different species.

[sherene]

wow. learn something today, I just bought a baby c.pileatum yesterday from Rawang orchid farm. Thanks for the info.

[catttan]

So very beautiful, never seen this one before: flowers are reall really interesting, as there are two totally different species.

I agree Branka. If I didn't know it was the same plant I wouldn't have believed it if someone had told me. Yes Cstm pileatum is beautiful. This is the var 'Icy Green'. I'm still waiting for the pink variety to bloom. It didn't bloom last year.

[gavstang]

Very informative piece and lovely catasetum! You are a font of knowledge!

[Halloamey]

I smell an alien invasion Yew LOL, the female flowers are weird I would say. I just got a pileatum, I hope I don't have to stick it into the fridge to get it to have male flowers in India LOL !

[ManilaByNight]

I've got the icy green as well Yew but I never knew that they could produce both male and female flowers. Never knew that catasetums could be bisexual in nature. LOL!

So how do they get self-pollinated if the male and female flowers are produced separately? Or do they ever get self-pollinated ??

[catttan]

I've got the icy green as well Yew but I never knew that they could produce both male and female flowers. Never knew that catasetums could be bisexual in nature. LOL!

So how do they get self-pollinated if the male and female flowers are produced separately? Or do they ever get self-pollinated ??

I've been mulling over this question for some time. I think it's nature's way of ensuring that there's very little chance of in-breeding within a colony. Temperature differences between geographical districts would result in the production of either male or female flowers resulting in cross pollination of different colonies, ensuring vigour for the next generation. Of course this would need the help of insects that could fly quite a distance. Of course this is only my opinion.

[zainal abidin]

I would say in this genera including Cynoches they share similar behavior they can transforms into male and female flower depending on the temperature, though the female very ugly looking like Octopus but some how the smell being emitted by the flower sometimes so sweet to attract the pollinator.By the way nice photos.

[ManilaByNight]

I've been mulling over this question for some time. I think it's nature's way of ensuring that there's very little chance of in-breeding within a colony. Temperature differences between geographical districts would result in the production of either male or female flowers resulting in cross pollination of different colonies, ensuring vigour for the next generation. Of course this would need the help of insects that could fly quite a distance. Of course this is only my opinion.

I believe you are correct on that.