I would say certainly VERY pretty! Congratulations! How long did it take from seed to flower?

Thank you! And please don't tell nobody, but it is approximately ten years, and I have totally 12 seedlings left, and one other of them is right now poking out a bud.

How patience you are! Sir Hans!

AWWHH thank you so much for your positive view about the state of affairs which state of affairs I personally regard rather negatively. On this occasion, and in any case, I ask everybody to not call me "Sir" though.

Indeed, I DO remember your specimen VIVIDLY! Thank you for showing it on this occasion, again!

Perhaps I have not developed the discerning eye as so many of the more experienced breeders have, but I find it very appealing.

I guess that you are referring to my Statement "nothing spectacular", and I am standing by that, and there is no intentional "understatement" involved. The parents are spectacular, which is generally not as obvious from the Pictures provided online though, and my Goal is to breed something which is "extraordinary", "spectacular" "never seen before" "outclasses its parents" - that's all. Mine most spectacular result of this Season is, *imho* my first seedling of "Striped Panther" x "PapMinPic1".

Hans,

Those are beautiful! Congrats! It's interesting that the striping from the papilio blood is so persistent across so many crosses. Does it usually set seed, in your experience?

Both have bloomed for the first time. I am yet to know whether either can produce seed. The seedling from "Striped Panther" x "PapMinPic1" (=DIPloid x TETraploid) might be a TRIploid and it did not set seed after self pollination and crosspollination from "Flamenco Queen" (TETraploid) respectively, and as regards "Exotic Star" x H.papilio which is a DIPloid I am just waiting for the result after self pollination of one floret and crosspollinating from "Charisma" (TETraploid) on the other.

How have you been determining the ploidy? I've tried to assemble a list of known cultivars based on whatever info I could find and it is not very extensive.

No, I just concluded from their behavior. H.papilio will set lot of viable seed with other DIPs than itself, and will produce but very few viable seeds after pollination from TETs . This is typical behavior of DIPs.

Typical behavior of TETs, on the other Hand, is 1)self fertility and 2)fertility with other TETs 3)TOTAL failure after pollination from DIPs and 4)successful pollination on other TETs. Some TETS show an exception from 2) - they will not produce seed or IF they do, the seed will be malformed and not viable, a classic example is "Appleblossom".

"Striped Panther" is an example for a DIP, it would produce lots of seeds after pollination from "Reggae" which is DIP too, around 25 per seed pod whereas it did produce less than 8 seeds per pod after pollination from "PapMinPic"

Pollination of a DIP from a TET should logically yield TRIploid progeny. However, H.papilio is an exception. It will produce many many seeds with crippled Embryos in them, but the very few viable seeds will yield TETraploid progeny, as SUGGESTED by their self fertility and by their capabiliy of pollinating other TETs.

I do hope that my statement didn't seem contradictory. I am very much new to attempting crosses and at this point, most crosses using papilio or Exotic Star catch my eye. I have seen photographs of some of the beautiful crosses you have made. They inspire me to continue to try my own.

Thank you! As regards "Exotic Star", its progeny after crosspollination indicates that its conspicuous spotting is not transferred to the progeny. Which is a pity.

What are your thoughts on a Garasu Zaiku x Exotic Star or Sonatini 1623 x Exotic Star?

Hans-Werner & Joey,

Here is my cross of cybister # 0016 x Exotic Star and if you stretch your imagination, I think you can see a few dots. Certainly not as prevalent as Exotic Star itself, but some.

Be sure to click on these pictures to see it in a larger size.....

Donna

Donna,

You have great ideas when it comes to crosses. I am liking that a lot! You know, I am trying to get a flower as close to 'Spotty' as I can create myself. I look at yours and see the Exotic Star striping and those petals are narrowing. Now, that bloom with #1623 or some cybister with even more narrow petals would be a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately I forgot to remember your seedling and to include it into my consideration, which seedling I do remember now, and on this Occasion I indeed stand corrected and i am quite not embarrased all the contrary - I say "all the better, so there is hope" THANK YOU DONNA!

Hello Hans Werner! Your seedling is simply unique! Amazingly beautiful all and separately each petal! And his pestle as a strawberry with cream))

Best wishes,

Elena.

The strongest seedling which I expected to be the first to Bloom, took a longer breath, then it surprised me with two scapes, and the maiden bloom from the first scape is

Wow!!! I very much like this! You're getting such diversity! Thank you for sharing. it make me rethink the potential of Exotic Star and papilio together.

Mmmmh...

Oh, I am a fan of this one!

Only now, fully open. Yeah!

The pastel is so appealing! Please do share when the third sibling opens. This one is a winner for me!

Hello Hans Werner! Thank you for sharing your work with us! Your new seedling is very cute ! Charming!

Best wishes,

Elena.

One more Picture :)

These last few pictures show very ethereal petals, almost like fairy wings....☺☺

Very very beautiful! Congratulations! And Donna is right about the fairy wings :-)

Oooohhhh...I like the simple and "angelic" beauty of this last seedling Hans.

The second scape...

together with the two fully mature flowers of the first scape, one floret self-pollinated, the other pollinated from "PapDon2".

Btw, self pollination of one floret of the first-blooming sibling was not successful, which was to be expected in a DIPloid, but the ovary of the other, after pollination from "Charisma" (TET) is swelling'!

------------------------------------------------------------ Here

Okay one last Picture of this specimen!

Those blooms are so pretty! Papilio's shape, great striping and picotee edging, with a lighter background color to make it all stand out. Really beautiful!

All your kind comments are highly appreciated. I self pollinated the first floret, and I pollinated the other from "PapDon1" and, today, the florets on the second scape from "Picotee". The scape of the third seedling will be blooming in approximately two weeks.

Hans. They are so beautiful, like a water color of papilio. Serene. Thank you for taking the time to share. - J

Yes, I realize the bloom looks as if painted in watercolor. I also realize that this seedling provides quite more bloom per volume of the whole plant, as compared to H.papilio.