Cattleya lawrenceana first bloom

[ChrisFL]

Blackwater species from the Guyanas and uncommon supposedly both in the wild and in culture. This one was a bare root NBS import from Bela Vista at Redland this past May. It had sheaths on it, but they quickly dried up. I never removed them, and the plant spent the last few months pouring out new roots and making a new growth. However, it decided to finally bloom through the worst looking of the two dried sheaths. One bud blasted and another had fused petals and dorsal sepals. Hopefully, the next inflorescence will show significant improvement. This is my favorite labiate/unifoliate catt species, and if I could only have one, this would be it.

I love how the labellum arches suggestively.

labellum coloration...

 

[Candace]

Is it very fragrant?

 

[ChrisFL]

Candace:

This species isn't fragrant.

 

[goldenrose]

Very pretty, too bad it isn't fragrant!

 

[toddybear]

Very nice!

 

[ChrisFL]

This plant made a liar out of me. After being open for several days, the flowers have a very sweet and pleasant fragrance strongest in the mid afternoon.