Cattleya dowiana

[Duane McDowell]

One of the most beautiful and popular Cattleya species. C. dowiana (aka. C. aurea and C. dowiana aurea) is in the background of most yellow hybrids, many purple hybrids, and most red hybrids.
Can be difficult to grow unless it is given very high humidity. Highly fragrant.
These are a group of first-bloom seedlings photographed at Ecuagenera's nursery in Guayaquil, Ecuador (the Guayaquil nursery is where they grow their warm-growing plants).