Species, Natural Hybrid Orchid, Guarianthe

Dressler, R. L. & W. E. Higgins. 2003. Guarianthe, a generic name for the “Cattleya“ skinneri complex. Lankesteriana 7: 37-38.
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Citing molecular analyses showing Cattleya to be polyphyletic, the authors here formalize generic status for “one of the clearest segregates,“ the Central American complex centered on Cattleya skinneri Bateman (the Costa Rican national flower). Guarianthe Dressler & W. E. Higgins, the new name chosen, derives from the Costa Rican word “guaria,“ referring to these (and other) spp. Despite their molecular rationalization, the authors admit that “bootstrap support for [the C. skinneri group] is minimal.“ Thus their argument is fundamentally a morphological one, and several characters separating Guarianthe from Rhyncholaelia (its sister group in the molecular analyses) are adduced. Curiously, however, no morphological support is provided for the allegation that the C. skinneri alliance is “out of place“ in Cattleya, and no morphological characters are given to separate Guarianthe from Cattleya s. str. Four new combinations are validated, of which at least two pertain to spp. occurring in Costa Rica: Guarianthe patinii (Cogn.) Dressler & W. E. Higgins (based on Cattleya patinii Cogn.) and G. skinneri (Bateman) Dressler & W. E. Higgins; Guarianthe aurantiaca (Bateman ex Lindl.) Dressler & W. E. Higgins [formerly Cattleya aurantiaca (Bateman ex Lindl.) P. N. Don] may also conceivably be found in Costa Rica.

Called the "Flower of San Sebastian" in Costa Rica where it is the national flower, this plant is used by the natives to
decorate ...Read Moretheir altars and the roofs of their houses. The flowers are three and one-half inches across, entirely
rose-purple except for white in the throat. Five to ten grow on a stem. They have a sparkling, almost crystalline
texture which gives them a radiant quality. They are not of heavy substance, but keep a long time. The lip is similar
in character to the labiata type, but somewhat more tubular. This is a popular species and widely grown. It occurs
from Mexico to Guatemala, where it was discovered in 1836. The flowers appear in late winter or spring. There is
a pure white form.