I certainly am not among the more educated, but I have been hybridizing, or attempting to hybridize, Camellias for over 40 years. I have come to the same general conclusion as Mike Mace. Under ideal conditions of weather, pollen, bloom times etc., I have had success crossing species with different chromosome counts. In the Camellia world, the C. japonica x C. sasanqua cross in England years ago produced a notable group of hybrids. Howard Asper, in this country also had remarkable success with crosses between C. japonica and C. reticulata. If the so-called rules had applied, those crosses should never have been attempted as they were doomed to failure. So I repeat, have at it. We amateurs have nothing to lose but our time, so why not try the impossible? You might have a notable success! Shirley Meneice Pebble Beach, CA (now Zone 10) Lots of seed pods on this year's Retics and some of the Camellia species! Comments/suggestions from the more experienced and educated people on the list would be deeply appreciated. Mike San Jose, CA