Upland type Cattleya maxima?

[katsucats]

I've read that Cattleya maxima has an upland/highland type that is more temperature tolerant. Every site says the upland type has "deep lavender" or "dark purple" colors, but I've never seen the picture of one that is clearly distinguishable from a lowland type. The second problem is that it seems orchid photographers are allergic to the orchid plant itself. It's said that upland maxima have shorter pseudobulbs, but I couldn't find a single picture of the maxima without the flowers blocking the entire picture.

Does anyone have side-by-side pictures of the upland and lowland types, or examples of cultivars of either type? For example, what type is Cattleya maxima 'Gorgeous' SM/JOGA?

[Roberta]

Don't have side-by-side photos, just have the highland type (which grows outside at my house). The lowland type has tall pseudobulbs (12-18 inches), lowland ones about half that. Color is much darker than the lowland type (the ones of those I have seen are more of light lavender), flowers are smaller. So at my house, difference is functional... highland type can live outside (night temps similar to yours) , lowland type needs the greenhouse or it will eventually be compost.

[Roberta]

Here is a photo from Ecuagenera, when I was in Ecuador. These are lowland types.(Location is their shadehouse in the coastal city of Guayaquil, hot and humid) With people, you can see how big they are. Here's my highland one. For scale, mine is in an 8 inch basket. Color on the last one is a little dark, but the other two are taken under daylight conditions and those colors are pretty accurate.

[Keysguy]

If you can get your hands on a copy of the Chadwick's "The Classic Cattleya's", the darker upland type is on page 60 with the lighter lowland type opposite on page 61. Very easy to compare and contrast.

I was present at Arthur's talk on this topic a week ago in Key West. It was excellent plus I got the book signed!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by katsucats

I've read that Cattleya maxima has an upland/highland type that is more temperature tolerant. Every site says the upland type has "deep lavender" or "dark purple" colors, but I've never seen the picture of one that is clearly distinguishable from a lowland type.

The highland lavender is so deep it seems to glow while the lowland lavender is much lighter, almost pastel. Cameras really can't capture the deep lavender color properly, but I think Roberta's photo actually gets pretty close.

---------- Post added at 09:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:50 PM ----------

Also, here's Art Chadwick comparing highland and lowland maxima: https://youtu.be/-6QmhzFw5pY

[Havoccity]

I asked Ecuagenera about this a while ago, and they said coeruleas and semi-albas are lowland.

[katsucats]

In case anyone needs to know (for posterity), I asked Jeremy Losaw of Botanica 3D and NC Piedmont Orchid Society, who commissioned flasks of selfings of Cattleya maxima 'Gorgeous' SM/JOGA, whether that clone was a highland or lowland type. He said it was the shorter highland type.

The photos and video are helpful. Thanks everyone.

[My Green Pets]

So if I may hop in here, is my maxima highland or lowland?

Cattleya maxima cærulea

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by My Green Pets

So if I may hop in here, is my maxima highland or lowland?

Cattleya maxima cærulea

Lowland. I think all the coerulea and semi-alba forms are lowland, and the size of the pseudobulbs (and flowers) also says "lowland" to me. And it is absolutely gorgeous!

[orchidman77]

That is one "gorgeous" clone. I have a selfing of the 'Elegance' BM/JOGA clone - am I remembering incorrectly that they're siblings, or related somehow by circumstance? I think they're both wonderful, I just happened across the 'Elegance' selfing first. If I wasn't strapped for space, I'd get a selfing of 'Gorgeous,' too.

David

Originally Posted by katsucats

In case anyone needs to know (for posterity), I asked Jeremy Losaw of Botanica 3D and NC Piedmont Orchid Society, who commissioned flasks of selfings of Cattleya maxima 'Gorgeous' SM/JOGA, whether that clone was a highland or lowland type. He said it was the shorter highland type.

The photos and video are helpful. Thanks everyone.