Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: Miller's Cattleya, Miller's Laelia

Family: Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae (Orchid)

Synonym: Laelia milleri, Sophronitis milleri

Distribution: Brazil (Minas Gerais)

Habitat: Iron ore outcroppings; 800-1300m

Life form: Lithophytic

Foliage characteristics: Unifoliate; dark green tinged with purple

Bloom characteristics: Erect inflorescence is 12-18" long with 6-12 successively opening red flowers. Flowers are 2" across.

Bloom Time (northern hemisphere): April to June; peaks in May

Pollination syndrome: Likely bird

Description: Although this miniature orchid was not described until 1960, after much of the orchid mania of the 1800s and early 1900s had died down, it was not spared from over collecting. C. milleri is considered rare or possibly even extinct in its limited native range because of over collecting and habitat destruction from strip mining. This beautiful red to orange flowered orchid, discovered by a Brazilian botanist growing near rocky iron mines, may now only exist in collections.

Comments: Cattleya milleri