Analysis of a Cym crossing.

[MrCym]

Now I don't want anyone to think that we go into this depth of analysis with every Cym hybrid crossing but, the closer one gets to the species, the more significant the analysis should be, in my opinion, of course!

Some of you will be familiar with Cliff Hutchings' hybrid of Lowio-grandiflorum X Cym. devonianum which was named for him. We have the tetraploid version in bloom currently and it surely seems to have become largely forgotten. OK, it doesn't have any WT qualities but conversely, it seems quite cold hardy. We made a hybrid from the 4n plant and Bayaka Pendant which was named Cym Jaybee's Love that Ed Dumaguin got awarded a couple of years ago. The only other hybrid registered from CH is Bert Ruiter's Hector Grey, also a 4n, (X Harriet Ishitani). Hector Grey is a handsome thing and did great business for Bert but it doesn't show any registered progeny. The cross is fairly husky but very floriferous with a high flower count per spike. So today, I got the bright idea to cross a greenish Keshab Pradhan 4n onto the 4n Cliff Hutchings. Does that ever impact the species influence! We go from 50% devonianum, 25% lowianum and 25% Cym. grandiflorum in Cliff Hutchings to a possible hybrid with the species breakdown being 38% Cym. devonianum, 26% Cym. eburneum and 16% Cym. grandiflorum and the same % of Cym. lowianum.

To be honest, I cannot really predict what the result will look like if the pod takes and the seed germinates. Of course I might be ashes by the time the cross blooms but I'm motivated to make it and anticipate an interesting result. Surely, they will be quite modest in habit and green in color with noteworthy floriferousness. Roll on 2029....

[cricketerry]

I'll put a note on my calendar to ask you about it 5 years time.

[MrCym]

Terry, better to get some young plants!! My wife may be the big boss then and she has a weakness for bloody Phals.....