Cattleya x dolosa [Rchb.f] Rchb.f 1876 subgen Intermedia [Cogn.] Withner 1989 Photo courtesy of Jean Claude George

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Common Name Dolose Cattleya or the Crafty or Deceitful Cattleya

Flower Size to 5" [to 12.5 cm]

Often thought to be a natural hybrid between C walkeriana and C loddigesii it has not been able to be duplicated artificially. The major difference between this species and walkeriana is that the fall blooming inflorescence arises on the apex of a mature pseudobulb while walkeriana is on a separate immature growth. Found on rock outcroppings in South central Brazil near Sao Paulo with fusiform pseudobulbs carrying 2, narrowly elliptic or elliptic oblong, obtuse or rounded apically leaves. It blooms on a terminal, to 3 5/8" [to 9 cm] single to few flowered inflorescence that has fragrant, heavy-textured flowers occurring in the spring.

Synonyms Cattleya x eximia Barb. Rodr. 1877; Cattleya × schroederiana Rchb.f. 1883; Cattleya walkeriana var dolosa Veitch 1887; Cattleya walkeriana var. schroederiana (Rchb.f.) H.J.Veitch 1887; *Epidendrum x dolosum Rchb.f 1862;

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchidaceae Brasilienses Pabst & Dungs 1975; The Catttleya and their Relatives Withner Vol 1 1988; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1987; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995; The Brazilian Bifoliate Cattleyas and Their Color Variations Fowlie 1977

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Cattleya dolosa [Rchb.f] Rchb.f 1876 var alba Photos by © Eric Hunt and His Orchid Website.

A white flower variety of the previous species.