Cattleya candida [Kunth] Lehm. 1895 SUBGENUS Cattleya SECTION Cattleya Lindley
In situ Quimbaya Quindio Colombia 1200 meters 7/14
Photos by © Jay Pfahl
Photos by © Patricia Harding
to 
Common Name The Beautiful Cattleya - in Colombia azucenas [easter lilies]
Flower Size 4 to 5.2" [10 to 13 cm]
Found in Valle de Cauca, Quindio and Risaralda departments of Colombia on the eastern slope of the central cordillera of the Andes on branches high up in tall trees and require high light at elevations of 600 to 1500 meters as a medium sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with a stout, creeping rhizome giving rise to narrow, compressed, cylindrical pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, narrow,ligulate, acute leaf that blooms in the spring and summer on a erect, arises through a large spathe on a new growth, short, 4.8 to 5.6" [12 to 14 cm] long, 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence carrying fragrant, plum scented, campanulate flowers.
An interesting quick Identification diagnostic for this species, that my Colombian freinds have passed on, is that C quadricolor's leaves can be rolled up without cracking or breaking, while if done to C trianae the leaf will crack or break.
This species has been known for years as Cattleya quadricolor but Dr Ruben Sauleda after researching all the names available for this species has found that the name Cymbidium candidum Kunth 1816 is the true basionym of this species. I refer you to his publication viewable at New World Orchidaceae Website then scroll down to the Nomenclature Note # 6 June 22 2013 The Proper Name For A Colombian Cattleya Lindl.,
Synonyms Cattleya caucaensis Ballif. 1901; Cattleya chocoensis Linden 1870; Cattleya labiata var trianae subvar chocoensis Veitch 1887; Cattleya quadricolor Lindl. 1853; Cattleya ruckeri Linden 1865; *Cymbidium candidum Kunth 1816
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 342 HBK 1816 as Cymbidium candidum
Orch.-Grow. Man., ed. 2: 75 B S Willams 1862 as C quadricolor;
Ann. Hort. Belge Étrangère 15: 102 Linden 1865, nom. illeg.
Ill. Hort. 17: 37 Linden 1870 as C chocoensis;
Chron. Orchidéenne 1: 329 Ballif 1901 as C caucensis;
Atlas des Orchidees Cultivees Constantin 1920 as C chocoensis drawing fide;
Beitrage Zur Orchideenkunde Von Colombia 27:78 Schlechter 1924;
AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 9 1958 drawing ok;
Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965 as C labiata var quadricolor;
AOS Bulletin Vol 39 No 5 1970 as C chocoensis;
Die Orchideen 3 Auflage Bd 1 Sonderabdruck aus Schlechter Lieferung 10 576 - 632 Brieger, Maatsch and Senghas 1977 as C chocoensis photo fide;
Orquideologia Vol 12 No 2/3 1977/8 as C chocoensis;
Orquideologia Vol 14 No 1 1979 as C chocoensis;
Orquideologia Vol 15 #1 Luer & Escobar 1981 as C chocoensis;
Growing Orchids Vol 2 Rentoul 1982;
AOS Bulletin Vol 54 No 10 1985 as C chocoensis photo fide;
The Cattleya and their Relatives Withner Vol 1 1988 drawing fide;
Native Colombian Orchids Vol 1 COS 1990 as C chocoensis photo fide;
Orquideología Vol 19 #2 photos fide;
AOS Bulletin Vol 70 No 12 2001 photo fide;
Orquideologia Vol 22 #2 2002 photo fide;
AOS Bulletin Vol 72 No 1 2003 photo fide;
The Colombian Cattleyas and Their Color Variations Toulemonde 2004;
Orquideologia Vol. 23 No 2 2004 photo fide;
Orquideologia Vol 24 #1 2005 photo fide;
AOS Bulletin Vol 74 No 9 2005> photo fide;
Orquideologia Vol 25 #1 2007 photo fide;
AOS Bulletin Vol 76 #6 2007 photo fide;
Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007 photo fide;
AOS Bulletin Vol 10 2008 as C candida photo fide;
AOS Bulletin vol 78 No 9 2009 photo fide;
Orquideologia Vol 27 #1 2010 photo fide;
AOS Bulletin Vol 79 #2 2010 as C quadricolor photo fide;
Orquideologia Vol 28 #2 2011 photo fide;
Orquideologia Vol 29 #1 2012 photo fide;
Orchids of the Department of Valle de Cauca Colombia Vol 2 Kolanowska, Hagsater, Szlachetko, Ayala and Saldana 2014 drawing fide;
Orchids, A Colombian Treasure Vol 1 Ortiz & Uribe 2014 photo fide;
AOS Bulletin Vol 84 #11 2015 photo fide;
Orchid Digest Vol 80 #2 2016;
Orchid Digest Vol 82 #3 2018 photo fide;
AOS Bulletin Vol 88 #7 2019 as C quadricolor photo fide;
The Orchid Review Vol 127 No 1328 December 2019 as C quadricolor photo fide; Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol IV: 477 Szlatchetko & Kolanowska 2023 drawing/photo fide
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