Cattleya purpurata var. mandayana

[Dorsetman]

this is stunning... the diversity of colour in the Cattleya purpurata group is so wonderful that one can see a collection of orchids just based on these plants!

There is in fact a book devoted to this subject - I have a copy -" Laelia purpurata - La Rainha - The Queen " - by L.C.Menezes - published in Brazil in 2009. I bought a copy at the last World (?) or maybe it was the last European, Orchid Conference. It illustrates , I think it is, 247 different varieties , which is a great inspiration - I have collected half a dozen so far - a long way to go ! But I have to admit that I have difficulty in distinguishing between a great many of them - maybe I could if I saw actual plants ? rather than pics.
But even then, there are different forms. For example, the book illustrates
3 different forms of var mandayana , and none is really close to this clone.
The purity of the white part of the illustrated plant here seems exceptional. The nearest by the way is L.purpurata var mandayana 'Brigadeiro' where those extremely faint pink lines seen on the fringe of the lip of one of the flowers seen here, are more prominent almost extending to a complete flush of pink on one of the flowers in the book.

You have an enviable plant - look after it !