Cattleya skinneri

This orchid is the national flower of Costarica and is quite rare in cultivation.It is a fairly robust representative of the genus-its thick bifoliate pseudobulbs reach up to 10 in/ 25 cm in size. The narrower bases of the pseudobulbs distinguish it from a similar species, C. bowringiana. A short spike bears 3-7 purple flowers that assume the size of up to 4 in /10 cm, and have a plain ,long tubular lip that is yellow on the inside . An albinic variety of this species , var . alba, has been known to exit ,with pure white flowers that are greenish on the inside of the lip. The species thrives if given normal care-best of all in a flowerpot filled with a mix containing a high percentage of crushed pine bark . It blooms in the spring and comes from Mexico , Costa Rica and Guatemala.