Laelia crispa, fma. alba (I know, now Cattleya)
 

My tenant has a thing for alba & coerulea color forms. Here the relatively rare L. crispa, fma. alba 'Kyleidosnow'.

The plant is large (4 or 5 inflorescences), but I could not get a full plant photo against the blue backdrop I use.

Wonderful blooms - I love C. cripsa! I think it looks quite elegant with the faint yellow markings. It's a shame that the crisped flowers aren't more fashionable in orchid circles.

Really nice form, wide petals - petals of L. crispa tend to roll up. Timing is certainly different for greenhouse-grown plants... My L. crispa don't put in an appearance until late July or some time in August!

I'm surprised L. crispa and L. lobata aren't more available. Are they any harder to grow than L. purpurata? I managed to get a L. lobata alba 'Fishing Creek' x self seedling from Carter & Holmes last October. It is growing well.

I find that all three grow about the same. L. tenebrosa is a bit touchier for me. (Same group, for me tends to bloom right after the last of the purpuratas) L. purpurata has color variety, size, and form going for it so no wonder that it is the most popular. For me, L. lobata blooms at about the same time (I'm seeing filling sheaths, 2 albas and a tipo), form is nice but it isn't as big or varied as purpurata. L. crispa usually has rather poor form, so I can see where it's less popular except for species nuts. The one that Fairorchids showed has really nice form for the species.

I am one of those nutty persons. Always had something for the crispa, especially when it is all rolled up. I think it makes it different and unique. Maybe that is why I have two :blushing:

It grows naturally in its habitat not far away from where I currently hide.
Centro Nacional de Conservacao da Flora - CNCFlora (there is a map if you scroll)
The lobata is even closer, I would guess about 500m away - if I were a bird!
Centro Nacional de Conservacao da Flora - CNCFlora (another map)
I have got to escalate a massive mountain full of Atlantic rain forest to get there, nevermind the risk meeting some scary dudes along the way. Yeah, so I just stay down here. Never thought I would live so close to orchid heaven as I come from a freezing place. I enjoy it while it lasts. Who knows, maybe I would get the courage to go up there one day, but it is not an easy thing to do, I know that.

Anyway, nice growing there! Any chance for us to see the whole plant? *pleeeeeease*

E.S. ----- I grow one purpurata of some sort here ----- currently has a sheath, so waiting for the spike, which then hopefully continues on to flowering. Growing really well in the tropics here.

The plant is currently on display in a Manhattan apartment, so I can't take more photos. It has an untidy appearance, with 4 or 5 leads leaning in every direction. That made it impossible to take a whole plant photo, as our photo backdrop is only 36" wide.