Cattleya loddigesii or harrisoniae?

[Greenorchid]

Hi all

Yesterday i've purchased this plant, labeled ad C. loddigesii, but now i'm in doubt....

The colour in real is pretty darker, the flower is lightly scented, and the plant is blooming now (here now is summer)

Could it be a C. harrisoniae?

[Dorothy]

This gives detailed differences between the two - Scroll down to the table at the end of the page -
Orchids of Brazil. Taxonomy

and Clan Orchids has this to say about these Cattleya -

"Cattleya loddigesii (Cattleya harrisoniana) Bateman ex Lindley, 1836 is a native of Brazil, where it can be found growing epiphytically in swampy areas near Rio De Janiero, and in and around Minas Gerais. Many taxonomists, over the years, have considered Cattleya harrisoniana as a color variety of Cattleya loddigesii, whose natural range overlaps C. harrisoniana. As the two species readily interbreed even more confusion is added. Bateman was also confused in 1836, as he used the incorrect epithet of harrisoniae, instead of the correct harrisoniana. The Royal Horticultural Society recognizes this species as loddigesii for hybrid registration purposes. A very easy to grow species, Cattleya loddigesii (Cattleya harrisoniana) normally blooms in the late summer. Typical Cattleya culture. except this species enjoys basket culture, with coconut chips for media and non urea fertilizers,"

I hope this helps

[cb977]

Hopefully Mauro or one of our other Catt experts will chime in, sorry I can't give you an answer but...

It's gorgeous!!!

[cb977]

Way to go, D!

[Greenorchid]

Thank you Susanne, i'm glad you like it
Thank you also to Dorothy, i know that for a long time, C. harrisoniae was considered a variety of loddigesii, but now i think they are considered as two different species, also because they are native of two different zones of Brasil... is it right?

[Dorothy]

You are very welcome, Claudia
Take a look at this link from Miranda Orchids - Orchids of Brazil. Taxonomy
It gives an nice explanation and chart of their difference .. Yes, they exist in two different geographical regions
According to that chart, Cattleya harrisoniana is a summer bloomer ..

With differences in opinion upon whether they are one in the same or two different species only adds to more orchid confusion



Thanks, Sue

[Greenorchid]

Thanks again Dorothy, was just Miranda Orchids who brings me in doubt....
If C. harrisoniae (or harrisoniana) is a summer bloomer...my plant can't be a loddigesii, if it's blooming now, and now here is summer....

[Dorothy]

I'd love to see how Mauro responds to this

[Hawaiian Sunshine]

Hi Claudia. Not to complicate matters but I have a C. loddigesii var. harrisoniae 'Volcano Queen' that bloomed for me a week ago. The lip structure is a little different than yours. Yours is a beautiful flower though.

[Greenorchid]

Hi Hawaiian Sunshine, thanks for your words
Your Catt is awesome!!
But you call it loddigesii var. harrisoniana... and this is the matter, are they two different species now? eheheheh

Maurooooo where are you?

PS: Hawaiian sunshine, by you now is summer or winter?