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Cattleya percivaliana

Smithsonian Gardens

Object Details

Description
This large orchid is one of many known as a “Christmas Orchid” due to when it flowers. This plant produces slightly smaller flowers than Cattleya labiata, but typically have a better form, with fuller and flatter petals. It is named for an English orchid enthusiast of the 1800s.
Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere)
December to February; peaks in January and February
Provenance
From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Accession Number
2015-1590A
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Life Form
Lithophytic
Bloom Characteristics
Inflorescence is 10" (25.4 cm) long with 3-4 short-lived, pink flowers. Flowers are up to 5" (12.7 cm) across.
Fragrance
Musty
Range
Colombia to NW and N Venezuela
Habitat
Near rivers; 4265-6560ft (1300-2000m)
See more items in
Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection
Common Name
Christmas Orchid
Percival's Cattleya
Group
[vascular plants]
Class
Equisetopsida
Subclass
Magnoliidae
Superorder
Lilianae
Order
Asparagales
Family
Orchidaceae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Genus
Cattleya
Species
percivaliana
Smithsonian Gardens
Topic
Orchids
Living Collections
Record ID
ofeo-sg_2015-1590A
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax793c9f215-2843-43e2-a1a8-182b5f696f26

Related Content

  • The Art and Science of Orchids

Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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