Laelia rubescens Lindley 1840 SUBGENUS Laelia SECTION Podolaelia Schlechter Photo by © Jay Pfahl

Flower Closeup

Inflorescence Photos by © Peter Szabo

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Common Name Rosy Tinted Laelia - In Mexico "Guarita"

Flower Size 2" [4 to 7 cm]

A Central American, medium sized, cool to hot growing epiphyte and occasional lithophyte with a single [rarely 2] leaf of dry areas and wooded regions in seasonally dry, deciduous forests at an elevation of sealevel to 1700 meters on exposed tree trunks where they withstand full sun for hours, yet get plenty of air movement to cool down. They are distinguished from other Laelia by their compessed, ovoid, wrinkled, dark green psuedobulbs subtended by papery sheaths carrying a single [rarely 2] leathery, apical, oblong-ovate, spreading or suberect, leathery, v shaped in cross-section, obtuse, basally claping leaf and they flower in the autumn and winter on a new growth with a to 3' [90 cm] long, terete inflorescence with fragrant flowers all clustered at the apex that may close at night or not, covered in papery sheaths. Mount on tree fern slabs and give bright light, ample water while growing and a dry winter rest after flowering

Synonyms Amalia acuminata (Lindl.) Heynh. 1846; Amalia peduncularis (Lindl.) Heynh. 1846; Amalia rubescens (Lindl.) Heynh. 1846; Bletia acuminata Rchb.f 1861; Bletia peduncularis (Lindl.) Rchb. f. 1861; Bletia rubescens Rchb.f 1861; Bletia violacea (Rchb. f.) Rchb. f. 1861; Cattleya acuminata Beer 1853; Cattleya pendicularis Beer 1854; Cattleya rubescens Beer 1854; Laelia acuminata Lindley 1841; Laelia inconspicua H.G.Jones 1974; Laelia peduncularis Lindley 1842; Laelia pubescens Lemoine 1852; Laelia rubescens f. peduncularis (Lindl.) Halb. 1993; Laelia violacea Rchb.f 1854

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Lankester's Epidendra Website CR ; *Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26: t. 41, also misc. 20. 1840; Xenia Orchidaceae vol 2 Rchb.f 1862 as Bletia rubescens; Xenia Orchidaceae vol 2 Rchb.f 1862 as Bletia peduncularis; Xenia Orchidaceae vol 2 Rchb.f 1862 as Bletia violacea; Xenia Orchidaceae vol 2 Rchb.f 1862 as Bletia acuminata; Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni. Veg. Beih. 17: 48. Panama Schlechter 1922; Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni. Veg. Beih. 19: 131. Costa Rica Schlechter 1923; AOS Bulletin Vol 26 No 2 1957 drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 5 1958 drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 29 No 10 1960 photo as L acuminata; AOS Bulletin Vol 30 No 9 1961 as L acuminata; Orchid Digest Vol 42 No 1 1978 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 49 No 1 1980 photo; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 797 Dodson 1982; Flora Novo-Galaciana Vol 16 McVaugh 1985; aos bULLETIN vOL 56 nO 9 1987 PHOTO; Cattleya and Their Relatives Vol 2 Withner 1990; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 1441 Atwood 1992; AOS Bulletin Vol 70 No 3 2001 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 77 No 12 2008 photo

Laelia rubescens var alba Lindley 1840 Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt

Laelia rubescens var aurea Lindley 1840 Photo by © Lourens Grobler

A Mexican species from the Nayarit region that blooms in the fall with scented flowers on an inflorescence that has from 3 to 6 flowers.

Synonyms Laelia aurea F. Navarro 1990

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; AOS Bulletin Vol 51 No 11 1982 photo;

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