Giant Cattleya

[Kelo]

Could it be one of the Maxima catts or are they never bifoliate?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by orchidsamore

C. guttata do get that thick and C. leopardi are the same. Both often have leaves that usually look dehydrated. In hybrids, Keowee can get that big as well as Bactia. Most of these can be recognized from the flower.

How could I forget Bactia?! lol There was one more plant that was nagging at the back of my brain when I posted last!

As for Keowee, I've never seen one in person, so that is new info to me. If we could see a closeup picture of the base of the new growth, that would help in determining the parentage. Otherwise you will just have to bloom it!

[RobS]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Otherwise you will just have to bloom it!

That's neccesary anyhow

[catwalker808]

Your plant is a bifoliate Cattleya. It has two terminal leaves that go sideways, as opposed to a unifoliate cattleya which has one leaf that goes upward from the top of the pseudobulb (the main part of the plant with the leaf on top).

Can't determine from the plant itself whether it's a hybrid or species. But it's I think it's fairly easy to narrow down the Cattleya species involved in the parentage. I'm going to play detective. The most likely suspects are: C amethystoglossa; C guttata; C leopoldii; C loddigesii. C bicolor leaves are smaller & growths are clustered closer.

Your leaves look too thick & stiff to be some of the other tall bifoliate cat species. (Some are called Guariante species now, but they are still in the cattleya alliance).

And the remaining bifoliate cat species are much too small compared to your plant. Not C aclandiae (bifoliate but very short & entirely different growth).

Blc Keowee is unifoliate. C maxima is unifoliate.

Since your plant is putting out a new growth now, I would even guess that there is C amethystoglossa involved since it blooms in mid spring. Your plant may not be robust enough to bloom, or it may put out only 2-3 flowers. The other possible candidates bloom a little later, more toward late spring/summer.

That's my guess anyway.

[Fernando]

Yes,
and I think it is quite sure there is no Guarianthe involved because thee young growths of Guarianthe look different, rather like inflated sheaths - please post a pic when flowering, I would bet its a guttata.

Fer

[RobS]

I went to have a look at my bowringiana which is standing next to guttata. Looking at the shape of the bulb implant and orientation of the leaves. I still tend more towards bowringiana but can't rull out guttata either. The sheets is something that could easily be lost in a hybrid look at the growth habit of portia (not claiming it is portia)

So we can continue our yes / no discusison or we just wait for the flowers. I'm going to do take the last option.

[fotofashion]

I doubt it is amethystoglossa because I have two and the new growth is heavily spotted.
Beverly A.

[Roy]

Most of what has been said is true except that some of the canes have 3 leaves. This to me would indicate C. bowringiana in the background. There appears to be a swelling at the base of the canes which is also from bowringiana. What else is there is a guess.
BTW, C. guttata is recognised name & C. leopoldii is now known as C. tigrina.