Laelia autumnalis Lindl. 1831 SUBGENUS Laelia SECTION Podolaelia Schlechter Photo courtesy of © Lourens Grobler
Plant and flowers Photo courtesy of Weyman Bussey
Plant and Flowers in situ as a lithophyte, central Mexico
Plant and Flowers in situ as an epiphyte, central Mexico
Photos courtesy of Edouard Faria
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Common Name Autumn Flowering Laelia - In Mexico - Flor de los Muertos
Flower Size 3 to 4" [7.5 to 10 cm]
Found in Mexico in the central to southern mountains at elevations of 1500 to 2600 meters as a small to medium sized, cold to warm growing epiphyte or lithophyte, found on scrubby oaks and mossy rocks with bright light, a winter dormancy and night coolness with 2 to 3, leathery, lanceolate leaves per ovoid, subconical, to pyriform, tapering, curved, ridded and furrowed pseudobulb that blooms in the fall and winter in cultivation on an erect, stout, red colored, 2 to 3' [60 to 90 cm] long, apical, covered with scale-like floral bracts, several to many flowered inflorescence with fragrant, waxy, long-lasting, color variable flowers.
The villagers of the central highlands of Mexico on the 1st and second of November celebrate All Saint's Day and the Day of the Dead. On these days many families make small candy images of pigs, cows, horses, skulls fruit and other familiar objects created from the pseudobulbs of this species and Laelia speciosa. It is an ancient process handed down through the generations. The Pseudobulbs are sliced into thin pieces that are then ground in the same way as flour and corn for totillas. The ensuing green, mucilaginous paste is mixed with water, flour, sugar, lemon juice and egg white and then let to sit for several days. At the proper time it is poured into wooden half molds, the 2 halves removed and pasted to gethther and then decorated and painted with vegetable dyes to give the desired effect.
Synonyms Amalia autumnalis (Lex.) Heynh. 1846; Bletia autumnalis [Lindley]Rchb.f 1825; Cattleya autumnalis Beer 1854; Laelia autumnalis f. atrorubens (Backh.f.) Halb. 1993; Laelia autumnalis f. xanthotrophis (Rchb.f.) Halb. & Soto Arenas 1997; Laelia autumnalis var. atrorubens Backh.f. 1880; Laelia autumnalis var. venusta auct. 1884; Laelia autumnalis var. xanthotrophis Rchb.f. 1888; Laelia venusta Rolfe 1895
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Xenia Orchidaceae vol 2 Rchb.f 1862 as Bletia autumnalis; AOS Bulletin Vol 26 No 2 1957 drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 28 No 5 1959; AOS Bulletin Vol 39 No 5 1970; AOS Bulletin Vol 47 No 6 1978; Flora Novo-Galaciana Vol 16 McVaugh 1985; AOS Bulletin Vol 56 No 9 1987 photo; Cattleya and Their Relatives Vol 2 Withner 1990; AOS Bulletin Vol 65 No 11 1996 photo;
Laelia autumnalis var atrorubens Lindley 1831
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This particular clone came from the Volcano, Popocateptl at about 2300 meters in elevation.
Laelia autumnalis Pink variety 1831
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This one is from the state of Michoacan, 1900 m elevation, very fragrant!
~Laelia autumnalis var. furfuracea [Lindley] Rolfe - See Laelia furfuracea Lindl. 1839
Laelia autumnalis var gouldiana Lindley 1831
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A Mexican epiphytic species that grows cool to warm and is found in montane oak forests or lithophytically on volcanic rocks at elevations of 1500-2200 meters, often in full sunlight and has club-shaped psuedobulbs that have two dark green leaves with pointed ends, and an inflorescence that arises from the apex of a partially developed psuedobulb. They have fragrant flowers in the winter if given good light and a dry winter rest.
Synonyms Laelia gouldiana Rchb.f 1888
