Crippling in Yellow Cattleya Hybrids

[Joe L Fields]

Why call this crippling? Is it possible that the expression of C bicolor and C dowiana is what we see? One half of the DNA is bicolor and one half dowiana and what we see could be the normal expression of these genes. Also, polyploids are mentioned in the article and we know that expression of tetraploids and triploids sometimes results in thickened, enlarged, stronger colored flower parts. Additionally, dowiana has notoriously, poorly formed petals.