Laelia spectabilis (Paxton) Withner 1990 SUBGENUS Crispae SECTION Hadrolaelia Schlechter Photo by © Lourens Grobler

Common Name Spectacular or Distinguished Laelia

Flower Size 4 3/4" [12 cm]

Found in Brazil in Minas Gerais at elevations of 600 to 1000 meters on steep ridges of mountains on the SE face with high humidity as a small sized, cool to warm growing epiphyte with spindle-shaped pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, leathery leaf that blooms in the fall on new growths with a 3 to 4 " long, inflorescence carrying a single flower.

This species is often cited as a synonym of L pumila, I have left it separate at this time pending more information.

Synonyms Cattleya pumila var major Lemaire 1859; *Cattleya spectabilis Paxton 1850; Laelia pumila var mirabilis Morr. 1878;

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Cattleya and Their Relatives Vol 2 Withner 1990;

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