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Cattleya aurantiaca

As the generic name suggest, this orchid is attractive mainly for the lively yellow color of its flowers. It is therefore very important for breeding new cultivars, although the petite proportions of the flowers are a disadvantage. The species forms club- shaped pseudobulbs that are only slightly thickened, up to 14 in/ 35 cm tall ,and bear two leaves. A short flower spike bearing a raceme of up to 15 flowers pushes its way out from the flower sheath that occurs between the leaves at the end of the pseudobulbs. The flowers are about 1.4 in/3.5 cm in diameter , and last for no more than 6-9 day. In its homeland , the plant often occurs on older trees on coffee plantations; in the virginal wild,it has been known to grow in the central part of Central America,between Mexico and Costa Rica.