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

Common Name Spectacular or Distinguished Laelia

Flower Size 4.8" [12 cm]

Found in Brazil in Minas Gerais at elevations of 600 to 1000 meters on steep ridges of mountains on the southeastern face with high humidity as a small sized, 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" [7.5 to 10 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence.

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

What distinguishes L spectabilis from L pumila is that L spectabilis has larger flowers with broader and longer trumpet-shape to the lip that has a cowhorn-like upward sweep apex. The central tuft of the disc in the throat of L pumila is missing in this species. The lateral lobes of the lip over the column if spread open is stiff and it will crack or split. The petals are broader obtuse instead of tapered and acute apically. The petals do not droop in this species as they do with L pumila

Synonyms Cattleya pumila var major Lemaire 1859; *Cattleya spectabilis Paxton 1850; Hadrolaelia spectabilis (Paxton) F.Barros & J.A.N.Bat. 2004; Hadrolaelia spectabilis f. alba F.Barros & J.A.N.Bat. 2004; Laelia pumila var mirabilis Morr. 1878;

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Cattleya and Their Relatives Vol 2 Withner 1990 photo fide; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 42 - 43 pg 2626 - 2762 Brieger 2001;

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