Laelia Grandis Tenebrosa Lindley (1852.)
Reichenbachia Volume I. Series II.

Laelia purpurata Lindley (1852.)
Reichenbachia Volume I. Series II.

Laelia purpurata Lindley (1852.)

   Laelia purpurata is native to South Brazil.

   The variety shown above is the albinistic form,
parent of innumerable Laeliocattleya, etc. hybrids.

Laelia perrinii Bateman (1847.)

   Occurs in Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais States of Brazil.

   It is dedicated to Mr. Perrin, gardener of the orchid enthusiast Englishman R. Harrison.

Laelia sincorana Schlechter (1917.)

   This species was discovered in 1908 by Ernst Ule at 4,000 ft in the Sierra da Sincora, Bahia State, Brazil, then became virtually "forgotten" to be rediscovered only sixty years later, in 1968.

   In its natural habitats this orchid lives exposed to full sun, wind, rain and drought as a lithophyte on rocks or epiphyte on Vellozia (Yucca-like plants belonging to their own family, Velloziaceae.)
   Flowers can be as large as almost the whole plant itself is - up to 4 inches across. To produce its flowers it needs full sun.

   Recently it was re-named as Sophronitis sincorana (Schlechter) C. Berg & M.W. Chase (2000.) but I retained the old name still widely used in horticulture and in the orchid trade.

Laelia furfuracea Lindley (1839.)

   Native to Oaxaca State of Mexico, where it grows as an epiphyte on oak trees at altitudes between 2,100 and 3,000m elevation. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin furfuraceus (scurfy) referring to the dark brown or blackish scales present on the ovary and flower stem.

   Laelia furfuracea prefers bright but not direct sunlight, good ventilation and plenty of water.

   Its scented flowers lasting for 2-3 weeks are produced in late winter, after a cool, drier rest period but make sure that its roots must not dry out excessively.

Laelia tenebrosa Rolfe (1893.)

   Laelia tenebrosa played a crucial role in discovering the true habitat of the much sought-for Cattleya walkeriana kept sectret by collectors. The clue surfaced in the form of Laeliocattleya gottoiana, the natural hybrid of these orchids.
   That hybrid occurs in Baia and Bahia States of Brazil, just south of the Equator, where L. tenebrosa accompanies other relatives, for example Cattleya labiata.

   In the orchid literature it is not infrequently stated that it requires intermediate-cool growing conditions. If you keep it like that and it does not want to flower, then you know now why ...

Laelia lundii Reichenbach f. et Warming (1881.)

   It was discovered in Minas Gerais State in Brazil near Lago Santa by Eugenius Warming. Its natural habitats are between 500 - 1.000 m elevation characterized by hot days and cold nights.

   As its almost terete leaves indicate that L. lundii is adapted to such extreme environmental conditions: in nature is grows on rocks as a lithophyte.

   The flowers are small, 2 - 5 cm (1 - 2 inches) across.

Laelia briegeri Blumensch. ex Pabst (1973).

   Another miniature from Brazil; it is sympatric with Laela lundii see above.

   On the basis of recent DNA studies, few years ago it was transferred under the
Sophronitis briegeri (Blumensch. ex Pabst) C. Berg et M.W. Chase (2000.)
name into the Sophronitis genus.

Laelia lucasiana Rolfe (1893.)

Laelia purpurata Lindley (1852.)

Laelia purpurata Lindley (1852.)