'/> Fascinating Flowers: The Remarkable Bifoliate Cattleyas of Brazil

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

The Remarkable Bifoliate Cattleyas of Brazil

Except for a half dozen species found in Mexico and Central America, all the bifoliate Cattleyas are natives of Brazil. Below are some of these remarkable bifoliate Catlleya flowers

Lady Ackland's Cattleya

photo link

The Lady Ackland's Cattleya (Cattleya aclandiae) named in honor of Lady Lydia Elizabeth Acland who was the first European to grow the plant successfully. A dwarf growing Cattleya found growing on tree limbs and trunks in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The plant only grows 7-12 cm (3-5 in) tall. Its pair of fleshy leaves measures from two to three inches in length. Sometimes, purple blotches are found on the leaves when the plants are exposed to intense sunlight. The fragrant, long lasting flower is covered in dark red spots and a large frilly bright pink and purple lip white or near-white with purple blotches and spots. Flowers bloom in the spring and summer on new growths.

Amethyst-lipped Cattleya

photo link

The Amethyst-lipped Cattleya (Cattleya amethystoglossa) is a bifoliate Cattleya species native to Brazil in the states of Bahia and possibly Espirito Santo. The plant grows on palm tree trunks, large tree branches, and rock formations in the canopy of evergreen trees. The stems are cylindrical, 0.9144 meters (3 feet) or more high, bearing two leaves measuring 10.16 - 20.32 cm (4 - 8 in) long. The leaves have lovely random maroon spots. The sweetly fragrant flowers are about 7.62 - 10.16 cm (3 -4 in) in diameter in rose pink with darker pink spots.

Bicolored Cattleya

photo link

The Bicolored Cattleya (Cattleya bicolor) is found growing in the Brazilian states of Distrito Federal, Goias, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The slender, cylindrical flower stems are from 45.72 - 76.2 cm (18 - 30 in) bearing two oblong leaves about 15.24 cm (6 in) long. The very fragrant flower is mahogany-brown with purple overtones about 10 cm (4 in) across. The wedge-shaped lip is rosy pink or magenta in color. The flower spike can have three to seven flowers.

Noble Cattleya

photo link

The Noble Cattleya (Cattleya nobilior) is found growing on trees in gallery forests along rivers or on high cliffs in coastal Brazil. The flower spike produces one to three flowers. The flowers are rose lavender in color and have a very distinctive lip with yellow diamond-shaped markings. The Cattleya nobilior is an unusual species worth collecting. There is a coerulea ("blue") form and an alba (white) form available.

Spotted Cattleya

photo link

The Spotted Cattleya (Cattleya guttata) is one of the older members of the of Brazilian Cattleyas. The species is commonly found growing in the swampy forests behind sand dunes near coastal beaches. There are numerous forms and varieties, some of which have been treated as separate species. The long, cylindrical flower stem measures from 50.8 - 76.2 cm (20 - 30 in) tall, topped by two spreading, elliptic-oblong leaves from 15.4 - 22.68 cm) (6 - 9 in) long. The pseudobulb bears five or more fleshy flowers, each 7.62 - 10.16 cm (3 - 4 in) across. The flower color varies from greenish-yellow to brown and has brown spotting on the segments. The lip is always lavender with white to lavender side lobes. Flower Size 5 to 10 cm (2 - 4 in).

Dorman's Cattleya

photo link

The Dorman's Cattleya (Cattleya dormaniana) is found in humid, cloud-shrouded Organ Mountains in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. This small growing bifoliate Cattleya is a rare species not seen in cultivation at the present time. The slender, cane-like pseudobulbs have two narrow leaves on top. The fragrant, richly colored bronze flower is punctuated with a ruby or magenta lip. Flower Size: 8 cm (3 inch).

Elongated Cattleya

photo link

The Elongated Cattleya (Cattleya elongata) is another rare species of Cattleya not seen in cultivation at the present time. The species grow in full sun in Chapada da Diamantina in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The narrow pseudobulbs can to 60 cm (2 ft) tall and are topped with two or three, 20 to 60 cm (8 to 24 in) long leaves. The flower spike can grow to as much as 45.72 cm (18 in) making it the tallest of all Cattleyas. Each spike can bear 2 to 10 flowers. The glossy, fragrant flowers are a rich coppery rose red in color. The lip is white at the base with some yellow in the middle part and the mid lobe is a deep rose color. Flower Size: 8 cm (3 1/8 inches).

Forbes' Cattleya

photo link

The Forbes' Cattleya (Cattleya forbesii) found growing on trees, bushes and rocks near streams and the sea coast in the State of de Janeiro. The cylindrical stems are about 30.48 cm (1 ft) having two leathery, oblong leaves. The flower stalk grows between 9 cm to 15 cm (3 - 6 in) long and bears two to five flowers. The flower colors vary from yellow-green to light tan, and sometimes have a pink tint. The short three-lobed lip is usually white with red stripes and a yellow throat.

Granulose Cattleya

photo link

The Granulose Cattleya (Cattleya granulosa) is endemic to Permnambuco, Brazil. The species can reach 60 cm (2 ft) in height. The cylindrical stem is about 2-feet tall, having two leaves on top. The sweetly fragrant flower is very distinctively shaped about 15 cm (6 in) across. The sepals and petals are yellowish olive-green, with scattered spots of red. The long lip has a creamy background with an orange-yellow base that extends out to crimson purple on the front lobe.

Harrison's Cattleya

photo link

The Harrison's Cattleya (Cattleya harrisoniana)is endemic to the coastal plains of the States of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo. The species grows on rocks and trees in swampy forests located behind coastal sand dunes. The flowering stem is about 10 cm (4 in) long topped with two leaves. The waxy, fragrant flower measures 11,25 cm (4.5 in) across. The flower colors vary from deep lilac to rose-purple

Schofeld's Cattleya

photo link

The Schofeld's Cattleya (Cattleya schofieldiana) grows on trees or rocky slope faces. The species can reach 1 meter (39 inches) in height. The flower stem can bear two to five flowers. The fragrant flower is in rust and burgundy tones in color with dense maroon spotting on the petals and sepals. The purple or magenta lip has a white or pinkish frilly edge. Flowers can reach up to 10 cm (4 in) across.

Walker's Cattleya

photo link

The Walker's Cattleya (Cattleya walkeriana) is found in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Goias, Sao Paulo and Matto Grosso. The short, spindle-shaped flower stem is topped with two (occasionally one) leaves measuring 7.62 - 12.7 cm (3 - 5 in) long. Flowers are about 11.43 cm (4.5 in) across, ranging in color from bright rose-purple to pale pink-lilac. Lip coloration is the same or slightly darker than the petal color. The lip's lateral lobes are yellow, and most of the middle lobe is deep yellows.

18 comments:

  1. Lots of Cattleya flowers that I know of today. Actually, I knew the violet one only. More flowers here on this site.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I didn't know that Cattleya has many varieties. If I remember it right, my mom had the Granulose Cattleya. She took care of them like real babies. They only bloomed a few times then eventually died.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your post reminded me of the film Colombiana. These flowers are lovely to look at - colorful and bright.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh wow what beautiful flowers! I love flowers of all colors and sizes!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Are these flowers relatives of Orchids? They remind me of orchids, somehow... None of the Cattleya species attracted me though

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cattleya orchids have so many varieties and they do not look like each other. I did not think these were all cattleyas at all. The Cattleya we have is the one I am familiar with, huge beautiful orchids.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've always mistaken these flowers with orchids! But if we look closely, orchids are more circular petals noh? Anyway, I've always loved drawing cattleya before (during highschool) because of the notebook cattleya haha. I didn't know it had different colors and sizes. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. i like the Amethyst-lipped Cattleya! but are they similar to Orchids? they really look similar!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cattleya is so beautiful. By the way, it looks like orchid. hmmm... Or they are the same species?

    ReplyDelete
  10. These are all really beautiful Cattleyas. This would definitely beautify its surroundings.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those are all gorgeous! I have no luck in growing them here, they always die.

    ReplyDelete
  12. There are so many varieties of Cattleyas, I like the Spotted Cattleya the most, it's so unique.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Flowers make me happy I could literally stare with them all day :) Great list of flowers you made my day :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Each flowers has its different beauty, I like how colorful and attracted they are .

    ReplyDelete
  15. They are all beautiful! But my fave is the noble cattleya. It does look as what the name suggests ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. my grandma used to have some of these cattleyas when I was growing up....very beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  17. These are orchids right? I love the pink shade of the Amethyst-lipped Cattleya!

    ReplyDelete