cattleya sp.

It might seem that in the taxonamy of the rather showy , big-flowered crchids of the genus Cattleya, there can be no room left for surprise. And yet , one can still come across interesting specimens in the wild: the plant in the photograph has been a subject of dispute among experts as to whether it is a generic or intergeneric hyrid, or even a new species. A bifoliate orchid with thin pseudobulbs that reach up to 14 in/35 cm in height is an epiphyte and its ecological needs are similar to those of the other Brazilian Cattleyas. It was discovered in 1999 in Brazil,near Rio de Janeiro.