Cattleya hybrida
There are two registrations opf cattleyas under this name ; in 1859 - which is very very early for any orchid hybrid, the old firm of Veitch registered a cross of guttata and loddigesii - lots of this have been awarded and Orchid wiz illustrates many ; almost invariably they are spotted, and nowhere near as good a shape as seen here.
The later cross, was warneri x pumila ; the Registrar would have allowed the same hybrid name, because at that time pumila was a Laelia, and hence this was a Lc - a different "genus" from Cattleya. It was the work of the molecular biologists, who stated that there was no discernible difference beteen Laelia and Cattleyas, and hence two distinct genera could not be justified, which led to them all being Cattleyas now - Cs not Ls, on the basis of priority - Cs were described before any Ls.
I have to say that both registrants showed a lack of imagination in choosing a name, although Veitch had a better excuse - who in 1859 could have imagined that 150 years later, 45,785 hybrids would have been registered within the Cattleya grouping !
But it is of course perfectly possible that the breeder here lost the label on the flask , or lost the hybrid pollination records - and finding that they grew well and eventually flowered nicely, decided to sell them under this name. It is also very unlikely that I would have paid good money for such a nameless thing - having no idea what it would look like, and this was a plant given to me as a freebie, by one of the nurseries from whom I buy my cattleyas.
Of course if anyone can say - but I recognise it, the name is.... please shout up !
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