Species Orchid, Forbes' Cattleya

C. forbesii is a common orchid from the brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, often growing spontaneously in areas near the forest. I found mine...Read More in some university, growing in a large colony on a big trunk that was cut down and was going to the trash depot.

This is a medium sized Cattleya, with usually 2 glossy leaves on the top of a cilindric pseudobulb. The flowers come from the top, in inflorescences with 3-6 flowers. These flowers are yellow, or sometimes light brown, with an unusual labellum - it is white on the inferior page (outside) and yellow with red veins on the superior page (inside). Blooms mostly during spring and summer. Flowers last around 10 days, and have a slight scent.

You can obtain new plants dividing the rhyzome. Great for starters on orchids, since it only requires the basic: a fibrous substratum that must be watered every 5 days, some heat and light shade or a few hours of direct sun. And the reward is almost certain.