Cattleya jenmanii? Or something else

[mikefallen13]

Hello,

Just wanted some opinions on this plant. I got it as a division from a late friend over 15 years ago. The original plant was wild collected, I believe she purchased it sometime in the 70's as a fresh import. It was labeled as C. jenmanii tipo 60773, which I'm thinking may have been the date she acquired the plant originally or perhaps an ID number of some sort.

Its spent most of its time as a windowsill plant, rarely flowering and when it would, it was always a single, weak bloom. I never really questioned the ID, but after giving it better conditions in my indoor grow space... I'm not so sure the jenmanii ID is accurate.

This time I got two, large (approximately 6.5" span), shapely flowers, which are much darker than it's previous bloomings. I can hardly believe it's the same plant! The color of the lip and the really prominent yellow spots in the throat are what's throwing me, as I've sifted through a bunch of pictures on the web and couldn't find any jenmanii that really closely resemble this plant. So, any Cattleya experts have opinions on this one? I've always been OCD about having plants properly ID'ed so it's been bugging me haha

Thanks!
Mike

[estación seca]

I think it often does have a lot of yellow in the lateral throat.

I usually start here for Cattleyas:
Cattleya jenmanii

Cattleya jenmanii is basically a dwarf-pseudobulb member of the large-flowered group of cattleyas, and this compact habit, along with its strong, wonderful fragrance and free-flowering nature, are the most distinguishing features of the species. Cattleya jenmanii has the same general color patterns in its lavender flowers as C. labiata, and some clones can easily be mistaken for C. labiata. There are also clones that look similar to C. gaskelliana. Cattleya jenmanii, however, is easily distinguishable from C.labiata by its single sheath, because C. labiata normally has a double sheath. Cattleya jenmanii also usually has smaller flowers than C. labiata and it flowers at the end of the C. labiata season. While C. jenmanii has a wonderful fragrance, similar to C. gaskelliana, it can be separated from C. Gaskelliana by its flowering habit. Under conditions in the United States, C. gaskelliana flowers as the pseudobulb is still maturing, while C. jenmanii completes its new growth and, like C. labiata, rests for a few months before sending up flowers. Cattleya gaskelliana also flowers in June in the United States, while C. jenmanii normally blooms in the autumn.

[My Green Pets]

The size, shape, and two yellow spots in the throat make me think Cattleya warscewiczii.

Can you recall if this plant bloomed soon after the new growth opened up, or if the growth completed and sat doing nothing for some time before the plant flowered?

It is a gorgeous flower, congratulations!

[mikefallen13]

Originally Posted by My Green Pets

The size, shape, and two yellow spots in the throat make me think Cattleya warscewiczii.

Can you recall if this plant bloomed soon after the new growth opened up, or if the growth completed and sat doing nothing for some time before the plant flowered?

It is a gorgeous flower, congratulations!

Thank you! I think you may be correct on the warscewiczii ID, looking at pictures, the coloring of the lip and yellow spots line definitely seem to match. I measured it again today and the span of the blooms are now closer to 7"

The flowers opened basically as soon as the new growth was completed, the sheathing on the pseudobulb just dried and the flower sheath itself still haven't dried as of yet.

I also should have caught on to the fact jenmanii is described as a 'dwarf' species, this plant isn't small. The blooming growth is just over 16" tall (bulb and leaf).

Thanks for the help!

[isurus79]

Ya, this also makes me think of warscewiczii and your description of the plant also sounds too tall for jenmanii. Can you post some photos of the plant, too?

[Louis_W]

Does it have one sheath or two?

[mikefallen13]

It has a single sheath. Here's an overall picture of the plant, it has rooted itself to the side of my grow tent so I can't really move it for a better picture haha.

[Louis_W]

I think I agree with the others. Cattleya warscewiczii. There are some labiatas that look very close though... mostly ruberas which would be a rare jungle find if your plant originated in the wild

[My Green Pets]

Plant looks great. Nice roots!
Here's a link to Chadwick's article—apparently there is a trick to getting this plant to bloom well.

[orchidman77]

Agree with others above - looks like at least a hybrid with warscewiczii which corroborates with the blooming pattern and plant habit - I feel that most jenmanii have wider leaves that twist and turn a little! Also, “dwarf” for labiate catts doesn’t mean small, just somewhat smaller than the other giants hah! Either way - wow, what a stunning plant. I would happily grow this no matter what it was! Are the blooms fragrant?

David