This is a small species (4-6" or 10-15 cm in height) with very slender stems discovered in a small area of the southeastern State of Bahia, in Brazil. It was described in 1967 and soon after it was not found in the wild anymore and many considered it extinct until 1982 when a small population was found again. It is now on the list of the seriously endangered species.
The flower reminds a little those of C. loddigesii, but the lip has the unique feature of folding the sides of the mid lobe back giving a triangular aspect when you look at it from a frontal point of view. Also, the mid lobe takes a vertical position forming a square angle with the column. The general characteristics of the flower are those of the bifoliate Cattleyas, but this species is not bifoliate, although very occasionally a second leaf can appear. It is the only species inside the genus Cattleya known until now having bifoliate-type flowers on a monofoliate plant.
Seedlings of this species can begin to flower when the plants are only 4" tall, the flowers being 2.8-3.1" across.
Cattleya kerrii:
Cattleya kerrii Brieger & Bicalho on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Cattleya kerri side view and whole plant view:
Cattleya kerrii Brieger & Bicalho on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Cattleya kerrii's beautiful lip detail:
Cattleya kerrii Brieger & Bicalho on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Seldom seen Cattleya kerrii
Threaded Mode
