Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: Warner's Cattleya

Family: Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae (Orchid)

Synonym: Cattleya warneri var. alba, Cattleya warneri var. alba 'White Knight', Cattleya warneri var. coerulescens, Cattleya warneri var. rosea

Distribution: E Brazil

Habitat: Near streams; 100-600m

Life form: Epiphytic

Bloom Time (northern hemisphere): March to August; peaks in May and June

Bloom characteristics: Inflorescence is 3-6" long with 2-6 pink flowers. Flowers are 6-8" across.

Fragrance: Spicy

Foliage characteristics: Unifoliate; broad leaves

Pollination syndrome: Probably bee

Description: Although C. warneri was first sent to Europe in the late 1830s, the naturalist at the time thought he had rediscovered the lost C. labiata. This mistake continued for the next 25 years, and is an easy one to make for the casual orchid appreciator even now. The main difference between C. warneri and C. labiata is their bloom times, with C. labiata blooming in the fall and C. warneri blooming in the late spring to early summer in the US. C. warneri also typically has larger and more fragrant flowers.