Cattleya
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cattleya".

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Cattleya
Cattleya labiata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Laeliinae
Alliance: Cattleya
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. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals.

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.


Contents

Species

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); 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 as Brassavola x Broughtonia x Cattleya x Cattleyopsis x Diacrium x Epidendrum x Laelia x Sophronitis in Gladysyeeara.

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