Carlablackiae x Besseae Aff #1 aka 'Stitch'

This is the first of two Carlablackiae × Besseae plants in my collection. I purchased it from my friend Nick Chew of Chewanthurium in the spring of 2025, with the intention of eventually using it in my breeding program.

When I acquired this plant, I knew I wanted to breed with her, but I had no idea what she was quietly planning. As the plant continued toward maturity, its emergent color changed dramatically—from green on its earlier leaves to the rich purple emergence pictured here. That unexpected transformation earned her the nickname “Stitch.” The leaf opens in a deep, inky purple with hints of burgundy and blue-black beneath the surface. Soft pink-to-silver primary veins radiate cleanly from the center, arching through the blade before finer secondary veins branch toward the margins. Tall, rounded lobes frame a narrow V-shaped sinus, while the leaf tapers into a long, pointed tip. As it hardens, the purple darkens toward an almost black velvet. Color and shape are not her only memorable traits. I can always tell when she is receptive without being anywhere near her—sometimes from the opposite side of the tent. Why? Quite frankly, she produces the worst-smelling inflorescence I have ever had the displeasure of putting my nose near.

Stitch has become far more interesting than I anticipated when I purchased her. I love the nearly black-purple emergent, the veining, and the clean shape of the leaf. I originally bought her with breeding in mind, and now that her mature characteristics are beginning to reveal themselves, I’m even more interested in seeing what she can contribute—provided I can tolerate the smell long enough to pollinate her.