Cattleya tenebrosa ‘Rainforest’ FCC/AOS

[DrLeslieEe]

These blooms crept up on me when I wasn’t looking lol.

A very old classic of the species, used in breeding the tenebrosas we see today. In fact, I bred this with a fantastic round flowered tenebrosa from GlenD couple years ago and the seedlings are all in flasks now.

Flowers can be large, around 22 cm if happy. Unfortunately my plant needed repotting and the flowers were not big this year. From a division.

 

[dodidoki]

One of my favourite laelia.

 

[Djthomp28]

This species is so striking. I just wish it was smaller

 

[PeteM]

Yes. I’m in the market for this species. Krull smith has a nice big one for sale but ... it’s BIG. I need more room.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Yes. I’m in the market for this species. Krull smith has a nice big one for sale but ... it’s BIG. I need more room.

They do get quite tall but with small footprint. The newer ones are slightly shorter.

However the alba and the aurea versions are about 1.5 feet tall, so maybe try those if you can find them. This is one of my tenebrosa aurea blooming at a friend’s GH (thanks to Dave).

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Update of this Rainforest. The blooms are expanded to about 17 cm NS today.

 

[Vox]

Lovely species. Your aurea is great! There shall be also an alba form out there, but who has it ever seen? Is yours smelling?

 

[dodidoki]

Lovely species. Your aurea is great! There shall be also an alba form out there, but who has it ever seen? Is yours smelling?

Alba form is on way to me....not was too cheap...

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Thanks all.

Yes lightly fragrant.

The albas are notoriously hard to grow but not impossible.They just need more attention.

 

[SouthPark]

The brown colour tepals of Rainforest is just so nice to see.

 

[Guldal]

Both colour forms can only elicit 'Ah's and 'Oh's from this party!

But can anybody give me a reasonable explanation, why this is (now transferred to?) Cattleya? I've never seen anything looking so Laeliaish?

 

[tomp]

A happy b

 

[PeteM]

A happy bView attachment 20737View attachment 20737

Wow, which variety is this? The pattern on the petals. so many flowers for such a small basket, looks like it's been in there for a long time. Well done and very impressive.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

I agree with Pete. Lovely basket culture of this tenebrosa!

Looks like the plant takes high light like mine.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Both colour forms can only elicit 'Ah's and 'Oh's from this party!

But can anybody give me a reasonable explanation, why this is (now transferred to?) Cattleya? I've never seen anything looking so Laeliaish?

Thanks Jens.

The taxonomy of this is based on the DNA studies by Dr. Chase where they look at specific markers and determined it to belong to Cattleya. I am a little wary of this renaming as it is still in infancy stage.

I still think it is a Laelia lol

 

[tomp]

Wow, which variety is this? The pattern on the petals. so many flowers for such a small basket, looks like it's been in there for a long time. Well done and very impressive.

L. tenebrosa Maria Fumaca with 17 cm NS

 

[tomp]

I agree with Pete. Lovely basket culture of this tenebrosa!

Looks like the plant takes high light like mine.

Yes good bright location . I either mount or grow open basket anytime I can. Plants are soo much happier if their roots can breathe freely

 

[SouthPark]

Unfortunately my plant needed repotting and the flowers were not big this year. From a division.

True! The very last photo way down the bottom shows the bulbs to be sort of on the dry side. Only just noticed it.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

True! The very last photo way down the bottom shows the bulbs to be sort of on the dry side. Only just noticed it.

Yes indeed lol
Next year with more attention, it should bloom much better.

 

[setaylien]

Both colour forms can only elicit 'Ah's and 'Oh's from this party!

But can anybody give me a reasonable explanation, why this is (now transferred to?) Cattleya? I've never seen anything looking so Laeliaish?

Guldal, there is no logical or scientific reason to reverse 200 years of botanic tradition and lump together Cattleya, Laelia and Sophronitis species. John Lindley decided to separate Laelia from Cattleya because Laelias have 8 pollinia, Cattleyas normally only 4. There are observable differences in size, plant habit, morphology and anatomical details which all add up to the conclusion these genera should be kept separate. Every time I see "Cattleya grandis" or "Cattleya coccinea" in print I inwardly cringe. The truth is, cladistic studies conducted by Wesley Higgins and others are really in their infancy and I seriously doubt that we currently have the knowledge to use such data as a basis for classifying plants. Dr. Carl Withner specialized in his long botanic career in the Cattleyas and their relatives and he never considered for a moment to lump very different orchids together merely because they shared some similar genes.
The truth is, lumping is currently in vogue with some botanists and they currently (and I hope, momentarily) dominate the orchid scene. You could use their logic to call human beings apes, too, but I for one would still like to be considered a member of Homo sapiens.