Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Lelia gouldiana

For the first time since I have owned it my Laelia gouldiana is blooming. I bought it from Andy's Orchids at the Pacific Orchid exposition years ago.

Laelia gouldiana plant growing on a branch mount
The whole plant, mounted on a branch
Laelia gouldiana flowers
 Laelia gouldiana is a tough and lovely Mexican member of the Cattleya alliance from the state of Hidalgo, where it grows (or maybe grew?) in the branches of trees. It was named for an American (Jay Gould) and was discovered and first described in an American orchid collection in the late 19th century.


Multiple sources online claim that this species "might be extinct in the wild," but it's quite difficult to find much more information than that.

Pink Laelia gouldiana flowers
Laelia gouldiana flowers


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