Plant hybrids
When two different species of plants mate ("cross"), they occasionally produce viable seeds. When those seeds are planted and grow, the offspring are said to be a hybrid of the two parent species. Hybrids can have characteristics that make them horticulturally valuable.
The red horsechestnut, Aesculus x carnea, is a hybrid between the common horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) from Greece and Albania and the red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) which is native to the east coast of North America. Notice the "x" between the genus and species name which tells you that this species is a hybrid. Hybrids between two species in the same genus are called interspecific hybrids.
Sometimes hybrids are produced between two different genera. In this case, an "x" is put in front of the generic name. A new generic name combining the two parent genera is given to the plant. For example when Chitalpa linearis was crossed with Catalpa bignonioides, it was given a new botanical name, x Chitalpa tashkentensis. Chi- from Chitalpa, and -talpa from Catalpa. Hybrids between two different genera are rare; they are called intergeneric hybrids.
STUDENT
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
17. What are the parent species of Platanus x
acerifolia?
18. What are the parent species of x Cupressocyparis leylandii? Where do the
parent species grow naturally? Given the natural growing conditions of this hybrid's
parents, it is not surprising that this hybrid is very susceptible to stress
and death due to a fungal canker in areas where it is hot in the summer - for
example the Santa Clara Valley in the San Francisco Bay area.