cattleya walkeriana

This species stands out by the extraordinary way it blooms-the flowers do not grow out of the flower sheath on the top of the pseudobulbs but out of a special leafless shoot. The unifoliate pseudobulbs are only 4 in /10 cm tall, and the inflorescence bearing 2-3 flowers does not outgrow it. The flowers are quite large (up to 4 in/10 cm in diameter )and purple. A white -flowered variety -var. alba-is also known to exist. The lip is flat ,three-lobed,narrowed heavily at the base. Its diamensions make the plant a sought after gem of small greenhouses and glass cases,except that it is hard to get . It should be grown epiphytically on a piece of bark or twing , as the roots are prone to mold. C.walkeriana blooms between December and April- the perfect time for cultivators. In the wild,it grows in Brazil.