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The Cattleya Story
Favored by the florist and valuable as the parent of large and showy hybrids, it is perhaps the orchid best known to the public. There are over forty species of Cattleya. In their native state the plants grow in thick clusters on trees-frequently mahogany or a type of acacia-and are so well protected by giant stinging ants that the only way to harvest them is to cut down the tree.
The Cattleya is among the larger and showier of the species orchids-species meaning 'native' as opposed to 'hybrid.' The coloring ranges through all shades and tints of purple, from amethyst and violet to magenta and deep red. Brown, yellow, and green species are found among the genus. Many of the species have alba varieties, whose flowers are pure white with a touch of green or yellow at the throat.
 Important among the Cattleyas are the labiata group,those possessed of a fine, large lip, which makes them valuable as the progenitors of commercially desirable hybrids as well as for their own beauty and prodigality. These labiates have some representative blooming, with trustworthy regularity, at every season of the year.
Cattleyas are gorgeous orchids that can be grown by beginners with relative ease. However, as any orchid they do need specific care. So make sure you have a good book on the subject and if you don't have one, get one!
Frankly if you do need a book you're not going to get one better than this book.. And the story behind how the book came into being is fascinating enough to go to the site just to read its story.
By the way, if you guessed that the orchids shown at the top of the page are all Cattleyas you would be perfectly correct.
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