A sheath within a sheath?

[Shannara]

Upon bringing in my chids tonight from the cold I noticed some large browning sheaths on my C. New Dawning 'Flowers Galore'. I felt something inside the browned sheaths so I carefully pulled them back only to find another green sheath inside. From what I can tell by gently feeling around there is a spike inside the second sheath. I have seen this once or twice before on other Catts in my collection. So...Is this a legitamite pre-bloom habit for some Cattleyas? I wanted to finally satisfy my curiosity about this double sheath thing so tell me what you guys think.

On a side note...this chid is just huge! It's in an 8" clay pot and at least 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall. I need to take a pic of it so you can see this monster. I bought it on discount at Hausermann's back in September. I was sort of in shock when I took it out of the box. $19.99 bareroot and very big! I drilled him up a very nice chocolate colored terra cotta pot.

Shann~

[squire]

how do you drill your pots?
i break mine

[Shannara]

Originally Posted by squire

how do you drill your pots?
i break mine

Drill Bit Info

I have a direct link for the drill bit at Lowes. The brand is Kobalt and I have the 1/2" and 5/16" glass and tile bit.

Kobalt 1/2" Hex Shank Glass and Tile Bit at Lowes

The one they sell at Home Depot for glass I also tried but it wasn't nearly as good. As for using this Kobalt bit...the slower you drill the smoother the holes. Keep some water nearby to cool it down if you will be drilling a lot of holes. If the drill bit gets hot it isn't as effective. The 5/16" goes through the Italian clay really fast. So fast I have to be careful not to slam the drill into the pot and crack it!!

Shann~

[orchids4me]

Sounds very interesting Shann, I've not ever seen this my self.
Can't wait to see pics !!

[Brooke]

I've got a few with double sheaths - I guess Mother Nature thought the buds needed double protection.

Brooke

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by Brooke

I've got a few with double sheaths - I guess Mother Nature thought the buds needed double protection.

Brooke

Double sheaths how interesting. What no pictures

[kmarch]

I've had double sheaths on catt hybrids. I always just figured it had a double set of whatever genetic instruction controls the growth of the sheath. I did not have it consistently though.

[TheBlazingAugust]

I think the double sheaths come from influence of species from Guarianthe. I know Gur. skinneri and bowringiana have double sheaths (I have a skinneri with a double sheath), so I would assume that the rest of the few species get two sheaths also.

[Nugget]

The species Catt' labiata is one that also has a double sheath. This is one point that is noted in the early publication ( 1800's ) that denotes it from other Catt' species. It does, which has been mentioned, something that will appear in hybrids even many generations away from the species.

[syndywindy]

I've had a couple with double sheaths. My Lc. Fire Dance Patricia has a double sheath right now and has had it for about 9 months with no change. The outer sheath is green so haven't wanted to disturb it.

[jsehorn]

My LC Gold Digger always produces double sheathes. I'm not sure how far the parentage goes back to the natural species level, so I'm not sure what species is responsible for this habit, but it isn't a problem at all.

[Shannara]

Originally Posted by sunshine

What no pictures

I will take some pics tomorrow!

Thanks everyone for your responses. I knew I couldn't be the only geek to see double sheaths. I wonder what the parentage is on my hybrid. If it has any of the species some of you mentioned having double sheaths?

I really need to buy a copy of OrchidWiz this coming year.

Thanks everyone again!

Shann~

[Shannara]

I was playing around tonight and took some pics. I put a quarter in the first pic to show how big this guy is. The second pic you can see where I pulled back the brown sheaths and that there are green sheaths underneath. It looks like I should get two spikes on this chid very soon!





Shann~

[PaulB]

Thanks for the pics! Puts everything in perspective. And boy, do I need perspective...

[Shannara]

Okay...so that big green sheath up there in my photo, the one that was already a 2nd sheath, well...it was getting really plump. So I opened it up and guess what....ANOTHER sheath! That is three sheaths in a row. I am almost afraid to see what comes out of the third one. This plant could forever trick me into thinking a spike is coming but instead endless sheaths!!

Shann~