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As
a step toward producing miniature dendrobium potted plant
cultivars, we crossed in 1981 the diminutive species Dendrobium
carronii, with D. bigibbum var. compactum. D. carronii is
closely related to D. canaliculatum and belongs to the section
Eleutheroglossum, while D. bigibbum var. compactum belongs
to the section Phalaenanthe. This hybrid was registered as
D. Mini Gem. Among diploid offspring an amphidiploid (tetraploid)
plant was uncovered, and subsequently was utilized to produce
several progenies.
The
cross between amphidiploid D. Mini Gem (PPEE genome) and D.
antennatum of the Ceratobium section (CC genome) made in January
7, 1987 resulted in a triploid hybrid progeny compromising
one genome each from D. bigibbum var. compactum (P), D. carronii
(E) and D. antennatum (C). This cross showed several desirable
characteristics as a flowering potted plant, and therefore
we registered it as D. Cathy Beck, and will release seed pods
to the dendrobium growers associations, as a miniature flowering
potted plant cultivar.
D.
Cathy Beck (UH1221) is very precocious. First flowering was
obtained only 18 months after germination. Average height
of pseudobulbs at first flowering was slightly under 2 inches,
and after two years of flowering, plants remained short-statured
with the tallest pseudobulbs averaging about 6 inches.
Flowers
are small, measuring slightly over 1 inch in length and 1½
inches in width, with relatively narrow petals and sepals.
The petal and lip are purple (RHSCC 77A) while the sepals
are light purple (RHSCC 77C). Although individual flowers
are small with relatively narrow flower parts, plants are
floriferous and make attractive flowering plants. Another
attribute of this hybrid is the long life of flowers on the
plants. The half-life of sprays (number of days from opening
of the first flowers until 50% of flowers on sprays wilt or
drop) averaged about 60 days. It flowers throughout the year,
but most of the flowers appear from October to February (Fig.
2). The description of D. Cathy Beck is given below:
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