How to differentiate cattleya lueddemaniana from cattleya labiata?

[KC Kam]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

Yes the look of the flower can vary a lot. The come in different color forms and are bred to be larger and fuller. It isnt always obvious even for an experienced grower, which species is which. Growth habit can also vary with the conditions the plant grows in so that isnt a great dignostic either. That is one reason that tags are essential and trust in the seller is important.

That said we all love to see photos and help with things like this. When i asked why you wanted to know i wasnt discouraging you from asking, i was just ttying to get to the root of the question

Do you have photos?

Hi Louis_W,

Dont worry, i am happy that you are willing to check it out for me.

I have attached 2 photos. Please guide me how to identify them.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by KC Kam

Hi Louis_W,

Dont worry, i am happy that you are willing to check it out for me.

I have attached 2 photos. Please guide me how to identify them.

This is labiata (or a hybrid with labiata) and certainly is not lueddemanniana

[KC Kam]

Originally Posted by isurus79

This is labiata (or a hybrid with labiata) and certainly is not lueddemanniana

Hi isurus79,

Can you advice how to identify is not catt lueddemanniana? Which method you use to identify it from what Jeff suggested?

---------- Post added at 11:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:24 AM ----------

By the way, ive reached out to the seller. He confirmed it was cattleya labiata because some experience grower told him he wrongly labelled it. But he was not able to answer me how to differentiate cattleya labiata from cattleya leuddemaniana even after he was told he labelled it wrongly. Please advice, i really want to learn.

[Louis_W]

KC Kam, to be honest most of us cannot describe how to identify a plant. We have seen enough that we recognize them the same way we recognize a person. That is to say we use our gut and experience.

That said, even experienced growers cant truely identify species correctly. Especially not with all the hybrids out there. We lean very heavily on the tags to tell us what is what. Its to the extent that a lot of us wont buy a plant if it does not have a tag, because we know that we can never truely know what the plant is.

If you were identifying plants in nature things a little easier because you have context clues like habitat and location, but it is still very difficult to be confident in your ID.

[KC Kam]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

KC Kam, to be honest most of us cannot describe how to identify a plant. We have seen enough that we recognize them the same way we recognize a person. That is to say we use our gut and experience.

That said, even experienced growers cant truely identify species correctly. Especially not with all the hybrids out there. We lean very heavily on the tags to tell us what is what. Its to the extent that a lot of us wont buy a plant if it does not have a tag, because we know that we can never truely know what the plant is.

If you were identifying plants in nature things a little easier because you have context clues like habitat and location, but it is still very difficult to be confident in your ID.

Hi Louis_W,

Noted, i fully understand it now that you explain it with this example. Apologies that i got carried away with the strong desire to identify them because i want to learn at the same time was frustrated with myself because i failed to differentiate them.

Thank you so much.

---------- Post added at 08:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:23 AM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

I agree that a lot of it comes from experience looking at these flowers over many years. Luckily, the lip color of lueddemanniana is very different than the other labiate type Cattleyas with distinct patterns. Other folks in this thread have done a good job getting into some of the details between the species.

Hi isurus79,

Noted. I dont have the opportunity to own catt lueddemaniana and catt labiata for me to learn hence i am kind of in the dark but since now i knew the plant i have was catt labiata instead of catt lueddemaniana then i will try to get hold of a catt leddemaniana to learn from there.

Thank you.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by KC Kam

Hi isurus79,

Noted. I dont have the opportunity to own catt lueddemaniana and catt labiata for me to learn hence i am kind of in the dark but since now i knew the plant i have was catt labiata instead of catt lueddemaniana then i will try to get hold of a catt leddemaniana to learn from there.

Thank you.

Even just going through lots of photos here on OB or on the many Facebook groups will help you develop an eye to see the different between luddemanniana and other labiate type Cattleyas. It just takes practice!

[Louis_W]

I highly reccomend signing up for the American Orchid Society. If you want you can get the mpmthly magazine, and the online database of orchid awards (orchid pro) is really great to look through. It allows you to see and compare good examples of many species.

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Also i enjoyed reading Chadwicks articles on the Cattleyas

AA Chadwick Articles

Sorry if it felt like i was shutting you down, i certainly didnt mean to. There is so much to learn!