laelia-dayana

L.dayana is considered by some botanists to be a subspecies of a very similar species L. pumila. It belongs among dwarfed and very beautiful orchids . Its pseudobulbs are barely 1.2-1.6 in/ 3-4 cm long ,ended with a single succulent ,firm leaf that reaches a length of up to 4 in /10 cm . The mature flower sheath gives rise to a flower spike that bears 1-2 flowers and is a little shorter than the leaves . In comparison with the other body parts , the flower is literally gigantic -its width exceeds 4 in /10 cm . The tepals are mauve ,the tubular lip is whitish in the gullet and crimson with dark lengthwise venation on the edge (L . pumila has bigger and paler-colored flowers with a longer and thinner lip ). Grow the species in a standard epiphytic style on a piece of bark or branch . The plant blooms between May and October and grows in the crowns of tall trees in Brazil .