''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals.

Description

Epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseudobulbs can be conical, spindle-shaped or cylindrical; with upright growth; one or two leaves growing from the top of them. The leaves can be oblong, lanceolate or elliptical, somewhat fleshy, with smooth margin. The inflorescence is a terminal

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

with few or several flowers. Flowers have sepals and petals free from each other; the lip or labellum (lowermost petal), usually has a different coloration and shape from the rest of the flower and covers in part the flower column forming a tube. There are four polliniums (bag-like organs that contain pollen). The fruit is a capsule with many small seeds.Schweinfurth, C., "Orchidaceae, Orchids of Peru", ''Fieldiana, Botany'' 30(3): 535

Taxonomy

The genus was named in 1824 by

John Lindley John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist. Early years Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley w ...

after horticulturalist William Cattley. Cattley obtained a specimen of then unnamed ''

Cattleya labiata ''Cattleya labiata'', also known as the crimson cattleya or ruby-lipped cattleya, is the type species of ''Cattleya'', discovered in 1818 in Brazil. This plant grows in the northeastern area of Brazil, in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas. Th ...

'' from William Swainson who had discovered the new plant in Pernambuco, Brazil, in 1817. The plant successfully bloomed under the care of Cattley and it became the type specimen from which Lindley described ''C. labiata''. Currently accepted species and subgeneric division within genus Cattleya are:

Subgenus Cattleya

Section Cattleya

Section Crispae

= Series Cattleyodes

= Series Hadrolaelia

= Series Microlaelia

= Series Parviflorae

= Series Sophronitis

Section Lawrenceanae

Subgenus Cattleyella

Subgenus Intermediae

Subgenus Maximae

Natural hybrids

Currently accepted natural hybrids are: *''

Cattleya × adrienne ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

(= Cattleya pumila × Cattleya jongheana)'' (Brazil) *'' Cattleya × albanensis'' *'' Cattleya × amanda'' *''

Cattleya × binotii ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ) (Brazil) *''

Cattleya × brasiliensis ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' (= ''C. bicolor'' × ''C. harrisoniana'') (Brazil) *''

Cattleya × braunae ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' *''

Cattleya × britoi ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (''= C. crispata'' x ''C. mirandae'') (Brazil - Minas Gerais) *''

Cattleya × brymeriana ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Ps ...

'' (= ''C. violacea'' × ''C. wallisii'') (N. Brazil). *'' Cattleya × calimaniana'' (Brazil) *''

Cattleya × calimaniorum ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' (NE Brazil) *''

Cattleya × carassana ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (Brazil) *''

Cattleya × cattleyioides ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (Brazil) *'' Cattleya × cipoensis'' (Brazil) *''

Cattleya × colnagiana ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (Brazil). *''

Cattleya × cristinae ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (Brazil). *''Cattleya × cypheri'' *''Cattleya × dasilvae'' *''

Cattleya × dayana ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. forbesii'' × ''C. guttata'') (Brazil). *''Cattleya × deckeri'' *''Cattleya × delicata'' *'' Cattleya × diamantinensis (= C. pfisteri × C. sincorana)'' (Brazil). *''

Cattleya × dolosa ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. loddigesii'' × ''C. walkeriana'') (Brazil). *''

Cattleya × dukeana ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. bicolor'' × ''C. guttata'') (SE. Brazil). *''

Cattleya × duveenii ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. guttata'' × ''C. harrisoniana'') (SE. Brazil). *''

Cattleya × elegans ''Cattleya'' × ''elegans'' is a hybrid orchid in the subtribe Laeliinae. It is a pseudobulb epiphyte. Its formula hybridae is '' Cattleya purpurata'' (Lindl. & Paxton) Van den Berg (2008) × '' Cattleya tigrina'' A.Rich. (1848). It is found i ...

'' *''Cattleya × ericoi'' *''Cattleya × feldmanniana'' *'' Cattleya × fidelensis'' (Brazil - Rio de Janeiro). *''Cattleya × frankeana'' *''Cattleya × gaezeriana'' *''Cattleya × gerhard-santosii'' *''Cattleya × gottoana'' *''

Cattleya × gransabanensis ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' (= ''C. jenmanii'' × ''C. lawrenceana'') (Venezuela). *'' Cattleya × gravesiana'' (= ''C. lueddemanniana'' × ''C. mossiae'') (Venezuela). *'' Cattleya × hardyana'' (= ''C. dowiana var.aurea'' × ''C. warscewiczii'') (Colombia). *''Cattleya × heitoriana'' *''Cattleya × hummeliana'' *'' Cattleya × hybrida'' (= ''C. guttata'' × ''C. loddigesii'') (SE. Brazil). *''

Cattleya × imperator ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. granulata'' × ''C. labiata'') (NE. Brazil). *''

Cattleya × intricata ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. ...

'' (= ''C. intermedia'' × ''C. leopoldii'') (S. Brazil). *''Cattleya × irrorata'' *''Cattleya × isaacii'' *'' Cattleya × isabella'' (= ''C. forbesii'' × ''C. intermedia'') (SE. Brazil). *''Cattleya × itabapoanaensis'' *''Cattleya × jetibaensis'' *''

Cattleya × joaquiniana ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. bicolor'' × ''C. walkeriana'') (Brazil) . *''

Cattleya × kautskyi ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. harrisoniana'' × ''C. warneri'') (SE. Brazil). *''Cattleya × kerchoveana'' *''Cattleya × labendziana'' *''Cattleya × lambari'' *''Cattleya × lilacina'' *''

Cattleya × lucieniana ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. forbesii'' × ''C. granulosa'') (SE. Brazil). *''Cattleya × macguiganii'' *''

Cattleya × measuresii ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphyte, Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots ...

'' (= ''C. aclandiae'' × ''C. walkeriana'') (E. Brazil). *''

Cattleya × mesquitae ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. nobilior'' × ''C. walkeriana'') (Brazil). *''Cattleya × mingaensis'' *''

Cattleya × mixta ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. guttata'' × ''C. schofieldiana'') (Brazil). *''

Cattleya × moduloi ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (''C. schofieldiana'' × ''C. warneri'') (Brazil). *''Cattleya × mucugensis'' *''Cattleya × neocalimaniana'' *''Cattleya × neocalimaniorum'' *''Cattleya × neoreginae'' *''Cattleya × nesyana'' *''Cattleya × occhioniana'' *''Cattleya × odiloniana'' *''

Cattleya × patrocinii ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. guttata'' × ''C. warneriana'') (SE. Brazil). *''

Cattleya × picturata ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' (= ''C. guttata'' × ''C. intermedia'') (SE. Brazil). *''Cattleya × pittiana'' *''Cattleya × porphyritis'' *''Cattleya × porphyrophlebia'' *''Cattleya × raganii'' *''

Cattleya × resplendens ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pse ...

'' (= ''C. granulosa'' × ''C. schilleriana'') (NE. Brazil) *''Cattleya × rigbyana'' *''Cattleya × ruschii'' *''Cattleya × sancheziana'' *''Cattleya × schroederiana'' *''Cattleya × schunkiana'' *''Cattleya × schunkii'' *''

Cattleya × scita ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' (= ''C. intermedia'' × ''C. tigrina'') (S. Brazil). *''Cattleya × sgarbii'' *''Cattleya × sororia'' *''

Cattleya × tenuata ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' (= ''C. elongata'' × ''C. tenuis'') (Brazil) . *''Cattleya × varelae'' *''

Cattleya × venosa ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' (= ''C. forbesii'' × ''C. harrisoniana'') (Brazil). *''Cattleya × verelii'' *''

Cattleya × victoria-regina ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' ( ''C. guttata'' × ''C. labiata'') (NE. Brazil). *''Cattleya × victoriacarolinae'' *''Cattleya × wetmorei'' *''Cattleya × whitei'' *'' Cattleya × wilsoniana'' (= ''C. bicolor'' × ''C. intermedia''). (Brazil). *''Cattleya × wyattiana'' (= ''C. crispa'' × ''C. lobata''). (Brazil). *''Cattleya × zaslawskii'' (= ''C. harpophylla'' × ''C. praestans''). (Brazil). *''

Cattleya × zayrae ''Cattleya'' () is a genus of orchids from Costa Rica south to Argentina. The genus is abbreviated C in trade journals. Description Epiphytic or terrestrial orchids with cylindrical rhizome from which the fleshy noodle-like roots grow. Pseu ...

'' (= ''C. amethystoglossa'' × ''C. elongata''). (Bahia, Brazil)

Nothogenera

Hybrids of ''Cattleya'' and other genera are placed in the following

nothogenera In botanical nomenclature, a hybrid may be given a hybrid name, which is a special kind of botanical name, but there is no requirement that a hybrid name should be created for plants that are believed to be of hybrid origin. The ''International Cod ...

: * × ''Brassocattleya'' = '' Brassavola'' × ''Cattleya'' * × ''Brassolaeliocattleya'' = '' Brassavola'' × ''Cattleya'' × '' Laelia'' * × ''Cattleytonia'' = ''Cattleya'' × '' Broughtonia'' * × ''Laeliocattleya'' = ''Cattleya'' × '' Laelia'' * × ''Rhyncholaeliocattleya'' = ''

Rhyncholaelia ''Rhyncholaelia'', abbreviated ''Rl.'' in the horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae), comprising two species. They are distributed in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Both species were originally published in '' ...

'' × ''Cattleya''

Cultivation

* ''Light'' :Cattleyas need light, but not direct sunlight; in case of intense sunlight, shade must be provided. * ''Temperature'' :Day temperatures must be between 25-30 °C (77-86 °F) and night temperatures not lower than 10-12 °C (50-53.6 °F). * ''Humidity'' :Must be between 40-70% with good ventilation; however plants must not be exposed to air currents. * ''Watering'' :Water only if substrate is dry. It can be done once a week, but it all depends on the environmental conditions and the season. * ''Fertilizing'' :Cattleyas can survive without fertilizing. However, it is advisable to use nitrogen-based fertilizers without urea; fertilizers must be applied during the growth season. To avoid salt accumulation in the substrate, water thoroughly between fertilizer applications.

References

External links

* * * (enter "''Cattleya''" in search box).
More info About Orchids
Orchids of Costa Rica
Breeding Cattleya
Breeding in Cattleyas

* ttp://www.floridanaturepictures.com/orchids/orchid.html Orchid Picture Gallery
American Orchid Society - Orchid Web

Cattleya Orchid Forum

van den Berg, C. and M.W. Chase. 2000. Nomenclatural notes on Laeliinae - I. Lindleyana 15(2): 115-119

Photos of Thailand native cattleya orchids
Orchidroots.org
Cattleya Species {{Authority control Laeliinae genera