Laelia pumila [Hooker]Rchb.f 1853-4 SUBGENUS Crispae SECTION Hadrolaelia Schlechter Photo by © Lourens Grobler

Another Clone Photo courtesy of Dale and Deni Borders

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Common Name The Dwarf Laelia

Flower Size 3 to 4" [7.5 to 11 cm]

Another Brazilian, hot to cool growing, miniature, epiphytic species, with a solitary leaf, from elevations of 600 to 1300 meters low down on trees in swampy woods with some shade and high humidity with small, ovoid pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, narrowly oblong-ligulate, leathery leaf that blooms in the fall with one or 2, long-lasting, showy, fragrant flowers on a 3 3/4" [9 cm] long inflorescence subtended by a membranous sheath that likes some shade and high humidity unlike many others. A large tree fern mount is required as well as bright light, cool to warm temperatures, and plenty of water while growing followed by a dry winter rest.

This species is often cited as a the same as L spectabilis, I have left them separate at this time pending more information. If they are synomonous this name takes precedence.

Synonyms Bletia pumila [Hooker]Rchb.f 1861; Cattleya marginata Paxt. 1843; Cattleya pinelii Lindley 1844; Cattleya pinelii var marginata Beer 1854; *Cattleya pumila Hooker 1838; Hadrolaelia pumila ( Hook. ) Chiron & V.P.Castro 2002; Laelia praestans var noblis Lindley 1898; Sophronitis pumila (Hook.) C. Berg & M.W. Chase 2000

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Xenia Orchidaceae vol 2 Rchb.f 1862 as Bletia pumila drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 9 1958 drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 11 1958; AOS Bulletin Vol 47 No 7 1978 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 48 No 5 1978; Orchid Digest Vol 42 no 5 1979 photo; Orchid Digest Vol 44 No 3 1980 photo; Orchid Digest Vol 46 No 2 1982 photo; AOS Bulletion Vol 51 No 5 1982 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 57 No 2 1988 photo; Cattleyas and Their Relatives Vol 2 Withner 1990; Orchid Australia Vol 11 No 1 1999 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 68 No 2 1999 photo; Lindleyana Vol 15 No 2 2000 as Sophronitis pumila; Orchid Australia Vol 13 No 1 2001 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 74 No 5 2005 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 76 No 2 2007 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 76 No 4 2007 photo;

Laelia pumila [Hkr.] Rchb.f var alba 1853-4 SUBGENUS Crispae SECTION Hadrolaelia Schlechter Photo by © Lourens Grobler

An albino color version of the previous species

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchid Digest Vol 44 No 3 1980 photo;

Laelia pumila [Hkr] Rchb.f var. delicata 1853-4 SUBGENUS Crispae SECTION Hadrolaelia Schlechter Photo courtesy of Mauro Rosim

A white color version of the previous species

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