Info about Lc. South Esk 'Catherine'

[CattleyaObsessed]

This is my first orchid and I would love to know more about it- like what parents where used in the cross, and if possible, if it is a 2N or 3N plant.

I know that if it is a 3N plant it is likely to be sterile and in that case, I need to buy two new orchids and not one (I am really looking forward at trying to breed! )

I am sure this information would be available on Orchidwiz, but for some reason, I cannot open the free trial from them and am waiting to heard back as to what the issue might be.

Thank you all in advance!

[CattleyaObsessed]

OK- I -----------was able to find Lc. South Esk, but not 'Catherine'. Is it the same thing?

[Carolla]

The 'Catherine' would be the same cross, but one plant that was nice got its own name and any of its clones or divisions would be called 'Catherine' too.

[CattleyaObsessed]

So if the original Lc. South Esk plant is 2N, this will also, since 'Catherine' would just be a self cross of South Esk, or does that mean the same two plants that were used to make South Esk were used again and resulted in another South Esk that was unique and so it was given a name?

[Carolla]

It means that LC. South Esk is the name of a cross of two orchids. Your plant is a result of that cross that was named individually because of it's quality. From that you would have a clone or division, it will be a child of the same two parents as every other South Esk. Each of the plants named "South Esk" has the same parents, but aren't any more closely related than two sisters or brothers. Any time those two parents are crossed, the result (called a grex) will be named "South Esk". Your plant would be 2N like all the rest. You will sometimes find a lot of variation in a grex (siblings). When one is given its own name, all the plants with the individual name (Catherine) should be the same genetically.

[CattleyaObsessed]

OK, thanks! That helps. Someone said they think this plant is 4N, but I would really like to know for sure before I spend all the time trying to breed, since if it is 3N, it would be very unlikely to get seedlings, right?

[Carolla]

Oh gosh, you are way past my knowledge there, but it makes sense that it's harder to get seedlings with a 3N. I'm still just learning most everything myself at this point and just sharing my understanding of what I've read here!