Cattleya Charlesworthii (1900)

[Halloamey]

Here is my latest buy, a very rare and beautiful primary hybrid C. Charlesworthii (C. dowiana x C. cinnabarina) It is really a unique combination of two extremes in the Cattleya kingdom. On one side we have the huge dowiana with the brilliant lip and yellow color and on the other side we have the small yet floriferous Cattleya cinnabarina with its characteristic orange-red blooms. This combination has proved quite nice actually, the plant is very floriferous with about 4-5 flowers per spike with a much open lip. Would have loved a little bit more size. But it is a very nice addition for any red cattleya fancier.

The plant is also quite compact

[cdayinflorida]

Amey, Very beautiful.

[mazlani]

Lovely Catt!!

[Roy]

For an oldie, its better than some of the plants being sold today as "new".

[gardenguysorchids]

Love this one. This goes to show that old sometimes is better.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Wonderful color!! Love red cattleya blooms. WOW!

cheers,
BD

[Halloamey]

Thanks for the compliments. I also believe that old is gold. I am now tending to get mostly plain simple primary hybrids, they are much nicer compared to complex hybrids.

[Michael Saar]

Amey, I question whether this is C. Charlesworthii. In researching, I've only found one image of C. Charlesworthii (none on the internet), the clone 'Malibu' (AOS Bulletin, July, 1985, 'Yellow Cattleyas-The Influence of Laelias and Related Genera', by Ernest Hetherington), and it looks pretty much intermediate between dowiana and cinnabarina. The lip is ruffled, the petals relatively narrow and wavy. The author also says "Flowers of Lc. Charlesworthii I have seen resembled a miniature C. dowiana." The compact size also brings the identification into question. Withner states that cinnabarina has both leaves and pseudobulbs to 25 cm long(each).

[Kmac]

This is absolutely gorgeous Amey...congrats!

[Halloamey]

Hmm, I will contact the nursery and see what explanation they have to offer. At least the name tag says so. I will check with Orchidwiz today if they have an image for this one. Someone can may be can look at AQ plus. Could you try to scan and send the image you found in the AOS bulletin? I am a member of the AOS for the past 7 years now, is it possible to see the old magazines online in their databases?

Amey, I question whether this is C. Charlesworthii. In researching, I've only found one image of C. Charlesworthii (none on the internet), the clone 'Malibu' (AOS Bulletin, July, 1985, 'Yellow Cattleyas-The Influence of Laelias and Related Genera', by Ernest Hetherington), and it looks pretty much intermediate between dowiana and cinnabarina. The lip is ruffled, the petals relatively narrow and wavy. The author also says "Flowers of Lc. Charlesworthii I have seen resembled a miniature C. dowiana." The compact size also brings the identification into question. Withner states that cinnabarina has both leaves and pseudobulbs to 25 cm long(each).