Not a stupid question at all. I don't know about recessive, but traits can be missing from a generation or two of decendents, then suddenly pop up. Brad addressed that on his Bloom Season 2015 thread about a particular batch of seedlings:
"Tom.. I don't know where the ruffles went in that one was shocked but after I studied (Honorable Lord) it comes from Ledgermain and I think the colors in the shoulders are coming from it and probably the form as well. I did some other crosses directly with it the bloom this year with awesome very unique colors but the form left a lot to be desired."
