Cattleya maxima
| Cattleya maxima | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Epidendreae |
| Subtribe: | Laeliinae |
| Alliance: | Cattleya |
| Genus: | Cattleya |
| Species: | C. maxima |
| Binomial name | |
| Cattleya maxima Lindl. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Epidendrum maximum (Lindl.) Rchb.f. | |
Cattleya maxima is a species of orchid in subfamily Epidendroideae found from Venezuela to Peru.
Description
Epiphytic herb with club-shaped pseudobulbs, up to 39 cm. or taller with one leaf at the top (total height of pseudobulb and leaf about 61 cm).[1][2] Leaf oblong or broadly oblong, rounded at apex, light green, up to 35 cm. long and up to 6 cm. wide, thick and fleshy.[2] Inflorescence stem up to 30 cm long, with 3-6 (upland variety) or 12-15 (lowland variety) flowers.[1] Flowers 12-15 cm wide, with lilac or pale rose sepals and petals, except the lip or labellum, which has dark purple veins and a yellow area in the middle.[1][2][3] Dorsal sepal narrowly elliptic; lateral sepals elliptic lanceolate; petals elliptic with wavy margin; lip folded forming a tube, with the front margin curly and wavy.[2] Column slender and arched.[2]
Distribution and habitat
C. maxima occurs as an epiphyte on trees in dry forests from 100 to 1800 m of elevation, from Venezuela to northern Peru.[3] The upland variety can be found growing on rocky slopes.[1]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cattleya maxima. |