Cattleya walkeriana - Pics and Info

[Anglo]

Since Cattleya walkeriana has had so little attention here, this post includes some general information for the possible interest of those who may not be familiar with it.

It grows commonly over a large part of central Brazil. It's a bifoliate, but most frequently produces only one leaf per pseudobulb. The flower bud forms either on a leafless stalk that grows from the base of a recently matured pseudobulb or from within the leaf axil of a new pseudobulb.

Some spectacular cultivars have been produced through selective breeding, most notably in Brazil and Japan where it has great popularity among many orchid growers. In both countries, there are Cattleya walkeriana societies that focus on nothing else. C. walkeriana has also been used extensively in hybridization.

The flower is both fragrant and beautiful and there are a number of color forms. The typical color range is between pink and lavender with a darker lip. If you're interested, the tipo and sixteen others are described and pictured here: http://www.orchidnuts.com/#

Here's an example of what the plant looks like. I got this one last year as a small division. The picture was taken this year in midsummer before the flowering growth appeared. Walkerianas generally bloom in the late winter or early spring and sometimes again in the fall.



The developing bud. The stem turned and twisted a little as it grew, making the flower lean toward one side. I think that was caused by me reorienting the plant as the angle of the sun shifted with the season.



The flower just after opening.



Sorry the pics are gone.