Cattleya warneri var. albescens 'Santa Teresa'

[Rosim_in_BR]

The other day I posted a photo of C. warneri var. concolor and now I'm posting a similar variety, but with important difference: the lip is white. 'Santa Teresa' is the first and up to now the unique unifoliate Cattleya that has colored petals and sepals combined with white lip. A perfect inverted semialba! It is a very prized flower here in my country.

[justatypn]

What a beauty Mauro, excellent bloom formation

[tuvoc]

Hauntingly beautiful was my first impression. A real treasure, Mauro.

Kim

[Phantasm]

Rosim,

Are there hybrids of C. warneri x labiata in Brazil? If so, do they bloom twice a year?

[Tindomul]

I love the soft pink color. Very nice indeed!

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

Rosim,

Are there hybrids of C. warneri x labiata in Brazil? If so, do they bloom twice a year?

No, Phantasm, Cattleya Purity is something you can't find here. I guess that these two species are so similar (as you know, there are taxonomists that don't even consider them species apart) that people don't see why crossing them could produce something different. But, inside both species the sib and self-crosses have been a frenetic activity for decades. The genetic selection has generated some incredible labiatas and warneris. Take a look at two examples below.
Attachment 5953

Attachment 5954
But, even though C. Purity was common, I don’t believe that it could flower twice a year. Other crosses involving C. warneri and C. labiata with another unifoliate Cattleya does not flower two times a year. I have Cattleya Mrs. Myra Peeters for an example (warneri x gaskelliana), and was never able to make it flower more than once a year, and I can do that with a bunch of other hybrids. Anyway, consider that this is just my opinion, not based on observation of C. Purity itself.

[cb977]

Mauro, you have the most amazing collection!
There must be something new blooming every day for you!

Keep 'em coming

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by cb977

Mauro, you have the most amazing collection!
There must be something new blooming every day for you!

Keep 'em coming

Well, as I said the other we were chatting, I have quite a few orchids! And you are right, my living room does not pass a single day without at least three or four orchids. Growing them is a fantastic thing, don't you think?

[Orchonubee]

Originally Posted by Rosim_in_BR

Growing them is a fantastic thing, don't you think?

You are so right Mauro. For many of us, it's the addiction to the pleasures they bestow.

Rico

[Shirley]

Santa Teresa is so pretty, Mauro. What a beautiful lip! You have such an amazing variety of orchids that we never seem to see or have access to here. Lucky you!

Shirley