Cattleya

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Cattleya
Cattleya labiata
Cattleya labiata
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Laeliinae
Genus: Cattleya
Lindl.

Species
See text.

Cattleya is a genus of 42 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after William Cattley, who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids.

They are widely known for their large, showy flowers, and were used extensively in hybridization for the cut-flower trade until quite recently. This genus and the numerous hybrids come close, through their beauty, to the idealized picture we have of the orchids. The flowers of the hybrids can vary in size from 5 cm to 15 cm or more. They occur in all colors except true blue and black.

The typical flower has three rather narrow petals : two are fringed, and the third is the conspicuous lip with a fringed margin and various markings and specks. At the base, the fringed margins are folded into a tube. Each flower stalk originates from a pseudobulb. The number of flowers varies; it can be just one or two, or sometimes up to ten.

Taxonomy

The genus is divided into two groups:

  • bifoliate Cattleyas, occurring in the Amazon and Eastern Brazil. Two broad leaves grow from each pseudobulb
  • monofoliate Cattleyas, occurring in Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. There is only one, narrower and more erect leaf originating from each pseudobulb.

Cultivation

Cattleya orchids are slow-growing, taking 5-7 years or more to flower from seed. Most produce relatively few, large flowers at maturity. As a result, they have been replaced in the cut flower trade with faster-growing, more floriferous genera, such as hybrid cymbidiums and dendrobiums, among others.

Culture of these plants is relatively straightforward for orchids, and they are considered by many to be the archetypical epiphytic "orchid" in that they require well-drained media, frequent wet/dry cycles, and good air circulation.

Members of this genus have been in cultivation for almost two hundred years with varying levels of success. They were very popular in the early 20th century.

Main article: List of cattleya diseases
Cattleya Sunset view (a hybrid)
Cattleyas Blooming

Species

  • Cattleya aclandiae : Lady Ackland's Cattleya (Brazil)
  • Cattleya amethystoglossa : Amethyst-lipped Cattleya (Brazil)
  • Cattleya araguaiensis : Cattleya from Araguaia river (Brazil) == Cattleyella araguaiensis (Pabst) van den Berg & M.W.Chase, see Cattleyella
  • Cattleya aurantiaca : Orange Cattleya (Mexico to C. America) == Guarianthe aurantiaca, see Guarianthe
  • Cattleya aurea : Golden-yellow Cattleya (S. Panama to Colombia). Pseudobulb epiphyte
  • Cattleya bicolor : Bicolored Cattleya (SE. Brazil)
    • Cattleya bicolor subsp. bicolor (Brazil). Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Cattleya bicolor subsp. canastrensis (Brazil) . Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Cattleya bicolor subsp. minasgeraiensis (Brazil). Pseudobulb epiphyte
  • Cattleya bowringiana : Bowring's Cattleya (Mexico to Honduras) == Guarianthe bowringiana, s

ee Guarianthe

  • Cattleya candida (Colombia).
  • Cattleya dormaniana : Dorman's Cattleya (Brazil)
  • Cattleya dowiana : Queen of the Cattleyas, Dow's Cattleya (Costa Rica).
  • Cattleya elongata : Cattleya with the Elongated Stalk (Brazil)
  • Cattleya forbesii : Forbes' Cattleya (Brazil)
  • Cattleya gaskelliana : Gaskell's Cattleya (Colombia to Trinidad).
  • Cattleya granulosa : Granulose Cattleya (Brazil)
  • Cattleya guttata : Spotted Cattleya (Brazil).
  • Cattleya harrisoniana : Harrison's Cattleya (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya intermedia : Intermediate Cattleya (SE. & S. Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay).
    • Cattleya intermedia var. orlata
  • Cattleya iricolor : Rainbow-colored Cattleya (Ecuador to Peru).
  • Cattleya jenmanii : Jenman's Cattleya (Venezuela to Guyana).
  • Cattleya kerrii : Kerr's Cattleya (Brazil).
  • Cattleya labiata : Crimson Cattleya, Ruby-lipped Cattleya (Brazil)
  • Cattleya lawrenceana : Sir Trevor Lawrence's Cattleya (Venezuela, Guyana, N. Brazil).
  • Cattleya loddigesii : Loddiges' Cattleya (SE. Brazil to NE. Argentina).
    • Cattleya loddigesii subsp. loddigesii (SE. Brazil to NE. Argentina). Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Cattleya loddigesii subsp. purpurea (Brazil). Pseudobulb epiphyte
  • Cattleya lueddemanniana : Lueddemann's Cattleya (N. Venezuela).
  • Cattleya luteola : Pale-yellow Cattleya (N. Brazil, Ecuador to Bolivia).
  • Cattleya maxima : Greatest Cattleya, Christmas Flower (Venezuela to Peru).
  • Cattleya mendelii : Mendel's Cattleya (NE. Colombia).
  • Cattleya mooreana : Moore's Cattleya (Peru).
  • Cattleya mossiae : Easter Orchid, Mrs. Moss' Cattleya (N. Venezuela)
  • Cattleya nobilior : Noble Cattleya (WC. Brazil to Bolivia).
  • Cattleya patinii : Patin's Cattleya (Costa Rica to Venezuela, Trinidad) == Guarianthe patinii, see Guarianthe
  • Cattleya percivaliana : Christmas orchid, Percival's Cattleya (Colombia to W. Venezuela).
  • Cattleya porphyroglossa : Purple-lipped Cattleya (Brazil).
  • Cattleya rex : King of the Cattleyas (Colombia to N. Peru).
  • Cattleya schilleriana : Consul Schiller's Cattleya (Brazil).
  • Cattleya schofieldiana : Schofield's Cattleya (Brazil)
  • Cattleya schroderae : Easter Orchid, Baroness Schroder's Cattleya (NE. Colombia).
  • Cattleya skinneri : Flower of San Sebastian, Skinner's Cattleya (SE. Mexico to C. America) == Guarianthe skinneri, see Guarianthe
  • Cattleya tenuis : Slender-stemmed Cattleya (NE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya tigrina (SE. & S. Brazil).
  • Cattleya trianae : Dr. Triana's Cattleya (Colombia).
  • Cattleya velutina : Velvety Cattleya (Brazil)
  • Cattleya violacea : Superba of the Orinoco, Violet Cattleya (S. Trop. America).
  • Cattleya walkeriana : Walker's Cattleya (WC. & SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya wallisii (N. Brazil).
  • Cattleya warneri : Warner's Cattleya (E. Brazil).
  • Cattleya warscewiczii : Warscewicz's Cattleya (Colombia).

Natural Hybrids

  • Cattleya × brasiliensi (= C. bicolor × C. harrisoniana) (Brazil) .
  • Cattleya × brymeriana (= C. violacea × C. wallisii) (N. Brazil).
  • Cattleya x calimaniorum Chiron & V.P.Castro (NE Brazil)
  • Cattleya × colnagiana (Brazil).
  • Cattleya × dayana (= C. forbesii × C. guttata) (Brazil).
  • Cattleya × dolosa (= C. loddigesii × C. walkeriana): Dolose Cattleya, Crafty Cattleya, Deceitful Cattleya (Brazil).
  • Cattleya × dukeana (C. bicolor × C. guttata) (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × duveenii ( = C. guttata × C. harrisoniana) (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × gransabanensis (= C. jenmanii × C. lawrenceana) (Venezuela).
  • Cattleya × guatemalensis (= C. aurantiaca × C. skinneri.) : Guatemalan Cattleya (SE. Mexico to C. America). National flower of Guatemala == Guarianthe ×guatemalensis, see Guarianthe
  • Cattleya × hardyana ( = C. dowiana var.aurea × C. warscewiczii): Hardy's Cattleya (Colombia).
  • Cattleya × hybrida (= C. guttata × C. loddigesii) (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × imperator ( = C. granulata × C. labiata) (NE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × intricata (=. C. intermedia × C. leopoldii) (S. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × isabella (.= C. forbesii × C. intermedia) (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × itatiayae (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × joaquiniana ( = C. bicolor × C. walkeriana) (Brazil) .
  • Cattleya × kautskyi (= C. harrisoniana × C.) (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × lucieniana ( = C. forbesii × C. granulosa) (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × measuresii ( = C. aclandiae × C. walkeriana) (E. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × mesquitae ( = C. nobilior × C. walkeriana) (Brazil).
  • Cattleya × mixta ( = C. guttata × C. schofieldiana) (Brazil).
  • Cattleya × moduloi (C. schofieldiana × C. warneri) (Brazil).
  • Cattleya × patrocinii (= C. guttata × C. warneriana): Patrocinio's Cattleya (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × picturata ( = C. guttata × C. intermedia) (SE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × resplendens ( = C. granulosa × C. schilleriana) (NE. Brazil)
  • Cattleya × scita (= C. intermedia × C. tigrina) (S. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × tenuata (= C. elongata × C. tenuis) (Brazil) .
  • Cattleya × undulata ( = C. elongata × C. schilleriana) (Brazil).
  • Cattleya × venosa (= C. forbesii × C. harrisoniana) (Brazil).
  • Cattleya × victoria-regina ( C. guttata × C. labiata) (NE. Brazil).
  • Cattleya × wilsoniana ( = C. bicolor × C. intermedia). (Brazil).
  • Cattleya x zayrae V.P.Castro & Cath (bahia, Brazil)

Hybrids

Cattleyas have been hybridized both within the genus and with related genera for more than a century, but the last several decades have seen a remarkable increase in both the quantity and quality of the hybrids within the Cattleya alliance. Among the most popular are the Blc (Brassolaeliocattleya) and Slc (Sophrolaeliocattleya) hybrids.

Laelia (L): Breeding with this genus refines the lip of the orchid, producing a more elongated closed "cone" that gracefully opens into the full lip of the blossom. Some species of Laelia also contribute an intense violet shade. L+C = Laeliocattleya, the basis for many more complex and highly popular hybrids.

Brassavola (B): Most crosses with Brassavola are actually done with the Ryncholaelia digbyana, which was moved out of the Brassavola genus but is still considered such in naming the hybrid. This cross is made in order to effect the fabulous "feathered" or "ruffled" lip of the bloom; it also expands the lip of the blossom and the most imposing cattleya hybrids almost always have this species in their ancestry. These are usually the largest of the major cattleya hybrids. B+C = Brassocattleya, B+L+C = Brassolaeliocattleya.

Sophronitis (S): A tiny, flame-colored orchid that introduces the most intense red color to its descendants. Many crimson and scarlet cattleya hybrids betray sophronitis in their ancestry. Sophronitis is also used to miniaturize cattleya hybrids. S+L+C = Sophrolaeliocattleya.

Potinara (Pot.): The combination of all three of the above with a cattleya. Potinaras are not as popular as Blc's or Slc's, but there are some incredible examples coming in all ranges of colors from light green to magenta. Although it is not a rule, they are generally smaller than Blc's but larger than Slc's.

Yamadara (Yam.): The cross of the Blc combination with an [Epidendrum]. The addition of Epidendrum appears to increase flower yield, and some Yamadaras are intensely colored.

Hawkinsara (Hknsa.): The Slc combination crossed with [Broughtonia]. Smaller, often magenta/reddish flowers.

Cattleyas can be crossed with a large number of other allied genera, including Cattleyopsis, Diacrium, Schomburgkia, Tetramicra, etc. Hybridization can go all the way up to eight parent genera, such a s Brassavola x Broughtonia x Cattleya x Cattleyopsis x Diacrium x Epidendrum x Laelia x Sophronitis in Gladysyeeara.

External links

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