The meaning of "polyploidy"

[orchid doctor]

[This came to my private e-mail from a friend and excellent grower. I
thought it was an excellent question to pass on. People are often
reticent to ask about terms they have not heard before, thinking it
betrays ignorance (we are all guilty of that). All it betrays is an
active desire to learn!]

"I copied and pasted this from eBay.......What does the '4N' mean when
used in a description? I see it alot.....
'Orchid Laelia anceps 'Ultimo' 4N species division' "


"4n" means the clone is polyploid, in this case tetraploid. It has
twice the normal number of chromosomes (2n=diploid, the normal case).
This can occur naturally which might be the case here (rarely, but it
does happen enough that researchers think it may be part of the reason
Orchids evolve so rapidly), or it can be induced by treating seeds or
meristematic tissue with colchicine, a nasty chemical extracted from
those Colchicum bulbs.

Tetraploid orchids typically are larger stouter plants which grow more
slowly and take longer to reach bloom size. Flowers are larger fuller,
more intense in color and longer lasting. Almost all modern Cymbidium
and Paphiopedilum ("standard" types) hybrids are tetraploid.

Dennis

[Morita Pagan]

wow, thanks for the info Dennis!  I will be sure to pay more attention the next time I am at an orchid show..... as an already mature 4N orchid would be a good bloom investment.

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