Laelia gouldiana
Laelia albida Bateman ex Lindl.
Amalia albida (Bateman ex Lindl.) Heynh.
Cattleya albida (Bateman ex Lindl.) Beer
Bletia albida (Bateman ex Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Laelia candida Lodd. ex W.Baxter
Laelia discolor A.Rich. & Galeotti
Laelia anceps Lindl.
Amalias anceps (Lindl.) Hoffmanns.
Amalia anceps (Lindl.) Heynh.
Bletia anceps (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Cattleya anceps (Lindl.) Beer,
Laelia anceps subsp. anceps
Bletia anceps var. barkeriana (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Laelia barkeriana Knowles & Westc.
Laelia anceps f. chilapensis Soto Arenas
Laelia anceps subsp. dawsonii (J.Anderson) Rolfe
Laelia anceps var. dawsonii J.Anderson
Laelia dawsonii (J.Anderson) Crawshay
Laelia anceps var. schroederiana Rchb.f.
Laelia anceps var. sanderiana Rchb.f.
Laelia anceps var. hallydayana O'Brien
Laelia hallidayana (O'Brien) Crawshay
Laelia sanderiana (Rchb.f.) Crawshay
Laelia schroederae Crawshay
Laelia aurea A.Navarro
Laelia rubescens var. aurea
Laelia autumnalis (Lex.) Lindl.
Amalia autumnalis (Lex.) Heynh.
Bletia autumnalis Lex.
Cattleya autumnalis (Lex.) Beer
Laelia autumnalis var. atrorubens Bachb.f.
Laelia autumnalis var. venusta
Laelia autumnalis var. xanthotrophis Rchb.f.
Laelia autumnalis var. alba B.S.Williams
Laelia venusta Rolfe
Laelia autumnalis f. atrorubens (Backh.f.) Halb.
Laelia autumnalis f. xanthotrophis
Laelia crawshayana Rchb.f.,
Laelia crawshayana var. leucoptera Rchb.f.
Laelia leucoptera (Rchb.f.) Rolfe
Laelia bancalarii R.González & Hágsater
Laelia eyermaniana Rchb.f.
Laelia furfuracea Lindl.
Amalia furfuracea (Lindl.) Heynh.
Cattleya furfuracea (Lindl.) Beer.
Bletia furfuracea (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Laelia gloriosa (Rchb.f.) L.O.Williams
Schomburgkia gloriosa Rchb.f.
Bletia gloriosa (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f
Epidendrum fimbriatum Vell.
Schomburgkia crispa Lindl.
Bletia crispina (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Bletia wallisii Rchb.f.
Schomburgkia fimbriata Hoehne
Schomburgkia crispa var. alba L.C.Menezes
Laelia gouldiana Rchb.f.
Laelia heidii (Carnevali) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase
Schomburgkia heidii Carnevali
|
Laelia lueddemanii (Prill.) L.O.Williams
Schomburgkia lueddemanii Prill.
Schomburgkia lueddemanii var. costaricana (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.
Laelia lyonsii (Lindl.) L.O.Williams
Schomburgkia lyonsii Lindl.
Bletia lyonsii (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Schomburgkia carinata Griseb.
Schomburgkia lyonsii var. immaculata H.G.Jones.
Laelia marginata (Lindl.) L.O.Williams
Schomburgkia marginata Lindl.
Cattleya marginata (Lindl.) Beer.
Cattleya crispa (Lindl.) Beer
Bletia marginata (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Laelia moyobambae (Schltr.) C.Schweinf.
Schomburgkia moyobambae' Schltr
Laelia rosea (Linden ex Lindl.) C.Schweinf.
Schomburgkia rosea Linden ex Lindl.
Bletia rosea (Linden ex Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Laelia rubescens Lindl.
Amalia rubescens (Lindl.) Heynh.
Cattleya rubescens (Lindl.) Beer
Bletia rubescens (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Laelia acuminata Lindl.
Laelia peduncularis Lindl.
Amalia acuminata (Lindl.) Heynh.
Amalia peduncularis (Lindl.) Heynh.
Laelia pubescens Lem.
Cattleya acuminata (Lindl.) Beer
Cattleya peduncularis (Lindl.) Beer
Laelia violacea Rchb.f.
Bletia acuminata (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Bletia peduncularis (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Bletia violacea (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.
Laelia inconspicua H.G.Jones
Laelia rubescens f. peduncularis (Lindl.) Halb.
Laelia speciosa (Kunth) Schltr.
Bletia speciosa Kunth
Bletia grandiflora Lex.
Laelia grandiflora (Lex.) Lindl.
Cattleya grahamii Lindl.
Laelia majalis Lindl.
Amalia grandiflora (Lex.) Heynh.
Amalia majalis (Lindl.) Heynh.
Cattleya majalis (Lindl.) Beer
aelia splendida (Schltr.) L.O.Williams
Schomburgkia splendida Schltr.
Laelia superbiens Lindl.
Amalia superbiens (Lindl.) Heynh.
Cattleya superbiens (Lindl.) Beer
Bletia superbiens (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Schomburgkia superbiens (Lindl.) Rolfe
Laelia undulata (Lindl.) L.O.Williams
Schomburgkia undulata Lindl.
Bletia undulata (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Schomburgkia violacea Paxton
Cattleya undulata Beer
Laelia weberbaueriana (Kraenzl.) C.Schweinf.
Schomburgkia weberbaueriana Kraenzl. |
|
Laelia, abbreviated L. in the horticultural trade, is a small
genus of 25 species from the orchid family (Orchidaceae). This is
one of the most important and popular orchid genera, because of the
beautiful flowers, their genetic properties and because they are
fairly easy in culture. It is probably named after Laelia, one of
the Vestal Virgins. Another possibility is the name borne by female
members of the Roman patrician family of Laelius.
They are found in the subtropical or temperate climate of Central
America, but mostly in Mexico. Laelia speciosa is a high-elevation
plant, preferring sunny, dry and cool conditions. The others grow in
the rainforest with a warm, humid summer and a dry cool winter. The
species L. albida, L. anceps and L. autumnalis prefer higher and
cooler altitudes.
Most are epiphytes, but a few are lithophytes, such as Laelia
anceps. They are closely related to Cattleya, but have twice as many
pollinia. Stems are usually short, however the stem of Laelia anceps
can be more than 1 m long. The ovate pseudobulbs are clearly
separate. These are about 6 – 30 cm long. One or two waxy, leathery
leaves develop from each pseudobulb. This leaf can be up to 20 cm
long. The inflorescence is a raceme, which can be 30 cm long, with
up to eight flowers, growing from the top of the pseudobulb. These
flowers can be pink to purple, with a beautifully colored purple lip
becoming white close to the column . They bloom in spring or autumn.
Albino varieties are rare and therefore prized. Due to high demand
for such a rare mutations, many horticultural labs use modern tissue
culture or mericloning techniques to increase their availability.
Members of this genus tend to be fairly easy in culture, and some
plants are surprisingly drought-tolerant. Culture is highly
dependent upon the natural habitat of the species in question,
although many do well as mounted (plaqued) specimens so that the
roots receive plenty of air circulation and a sharp wet-and-dry
cycle.
The "Brazilian Laelias, after being classified for several years
under Sophronitis, have now been placed in the genus Cattleya, to
avoid confusion.
Several species of the now-defunct genus Schomburgkia have been
added to the genus Laelia
Laelia species readily form hybrids within the genus, and with
other genera, including Cattleya, Brassavola, and Rhyncholaelia. |
